8 June 2021 12:00 am
By Yohan Perera
Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will be appointed as a National List MP this month, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday.
Mr. Wijewardene who was speaking to the media after donating a wall mount oxygen machine to Gampaha Hospital said Mr. Wickremesinghe will be appointed as an MP through the solitary UNP national list slot, as per the decision made by the party’s working committee.
“We are not sure about the date on which Mr. Wickremesinghe would be sworn in but he will be definitely appointed to Parliament within this month,” Mr. Wijewardene said.
“UNP has decided to send the party leader to Parliament as he is a mature politician. One would be able to see how he would help Parliament to play a greater role in overcoming the current pandemic,” he added.
Responding to a question raised by journalists as to whether the opposition has forgotten its role at a time such as this when the country is facing a crisis, he said the UNP leader had voiced his opinion from the time the pandemic began. “Our leader came out with some proposals during the all party conference which the Prime Minister called last year and these were not followed. Also the pandemic would have been under control by now if the government made early plans to purchase vaccines. Our leader reminded the government to get vaccines as well,” he said.
He said the very people who accused the UNP led government of selling off national assets are involved in doing the same today.
*** Mr. Wijewardene said the UNP leader had voiced his opinion from the time the pandemic began