The Ice Bucket challenge started by an American to raise funds for his friend suffering from a deadly Motor Neurone Disease has been converted into a publicity stunt by some local politicians who blindly follow whatever that comes from the West, United National Party (UNP) MP Mangala Samaraweera said today.

He said these politicians who had come into politics using the names of their fathers have begun to waste water when taking part in this so-called challenge when people in several parts of the country including Moneragala and Hambantota Districts are suffering from the severe drought.

“No one has noticed that people living in Bandarawala, Badulla and Nuwara Eliya face an ice bucket challenge whenever they wash themselves,” Mr. Samaraweera said in a statement to the media.
He asked how fun and games could be conducted on the internet at a time when parents were killing their children or committing suicide because they had no way of feeding them.

Meanwhile UNP MP Buddkika Pathirana also asked whether it was fair to waste water when people in ten districts were suffering without water. Mr. Pathirana said the ice bucket challenge was similar to the reviled pyramid racket. Therefore he urged all Sri Lankan citizens to reject this game. (Yohan Perera)