John reconsiders

16 September 2010 04:15 pm

By Jamila Najmuddin


UNP MP and Chief Opposition whip John Amaratunga says he has decided to reconsider his decision to be part of a delegation to the UN led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Amaratunga had been invited by the External Affairs Ministry to accompany President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the UN and he had earlier accepted the invitation.

However speaking to Daily Mirror online a short while ago the UNP MP said he has now reconsidered his move owing to pressure from within the UNP.

"A few people within the party objected to my invitation and therefore the party leader requested me to reconsider. I accepted the invitation as I saw nothing wrong with visiting the UN with the government delegation but now I am reconsidering the move and may not attend the UN sessions," MP Amaratunga said.

The UNP MP says he will be visiting the US on a family matter but will not join the Sri Lankan delegation visiting the UN for the sessions scheduled to take place next week.

President Rajapaksa has already left for the US to attend the UN sessions next week while his delegation will leave over the next two days. (Daily Mirror online)