The dangers facing the people of this country were made even more evident by the death threats received by Minister Maithripala Sirisena, UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam told a news conference today.

“Mr. Sirisena is not an ordinary person. He is the Chief Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). He is one of the few well disciplined and admirable politicians in the party and also the country,” he said.

He said the Government was planning a different strategy this time and eliminating senior members of the SLFP to replace corrupt politicians who had crossed over. “If he and his family are receiving death threats it is not hard to imagine the plight of an ordinary citizen in this country. If someone has been sending death threats to the Chief Secretary, it can only be someone who is in a higher position than himself,” Mr. Kariyawasam said.

He also accused the government of a lack of will power. He said that the Government had only given priority to Hambantota without thinking of the practical use of some of the projects coming up there.

“The Hambantota Harbour is still to prove its worth and the Mattala International Airport is not going to profitable. The Ranminnithenna Tele Cinema Village is only a white elephant. Even an actor can’t keep make up for more than two minutes in the hot climate there. But still they are filming in the village as certain media are requesting them to do so,” Mr. Kariyawasam said.  

If projects such as the Api Wavamu-Rata Nagamu project were successful, he said the vegetable prices should not have increased. “Too many taxes being imposed on imported products to protect local industries have also ended in failure. Consumers can’t purchase these items as these imported products are too expensive,” he said.

Mr. Kariyawasam said that the Government should reduce the cost of living and feed the people rather than appoint more committees. (Yohan Perera and Lahiru Pothmulla)