President’s helicopter rides a source of sarcasm for opposition in Parliament

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

In a sarcastic tone, the Opposition in Parliament yesterday welcomed President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s decision to travel to Kandy by helicopter, a move seen as a contrast to his past rhetoric.

Opposition MP Hector Appuhamy said it was appropriate for a Head of State to use a helicopter and noted that it was good to see President Dissanayake travelling with two helicopters.   

“It was President Dissanayake who previously questioned the use of two helicopters. He even asked whether a President could jump from one helicopter to another while travelling in the air,” Appuhamy said.   

He added that the President had finally used a helicopter after previously stating that he would never do so.   

Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake also welcomed the move, saying that President Dissanayake, while in the Opposition, appeared to have been unaware that the use of two helicopters was a standard security practice for a Head of State.