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| Sunday, 7 March 2004 |
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Most corrupt govt.: Mangala blasts UNF regime by a staff reporter SLFP spokesman Mangala Samaraweera blasted the UNF as being the most corrupt government in the country's history since independence. Addressing a media conference in Colombo on Thursday, Samaraweera said that ministers as well as officers have broken all past records by being corrupt to the hilt and playing with public money. The UNF Government's bus privatisation scam, Sathosa scam, Development Lottery scam, Bank of Ceylon building scam, Yasodha scam, fisheries scam, coast restoration scam, road-building scam, Oluvil Port scam and rehabilitation funds scam were identified as most corrupt. The Freedom Alliance also accused the UNF, which came to office with the promise to `Regain Sri Lanka', of stripping the country of its resources - a `Rip off Sri Lanka'. He also questioned the much spoken of `peace dividend', which remains mysteriously elusive to the majority of the country. JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa said the UNF has lost its senses, realising its downfall at the April 02 General Election. He lambasted the UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya for pressurising the Elections Commissioner to hold elections in LTTE-controlled areas. He asked the Minister how a democratic political party could put forward such a proposal. "According to the MoU signed by the Prime Minister, there is no provision for a political party to send its representative to the polling stations in LTTE-controlled areas nor does the Government has the power to implement the supremacy of law in these areas." The Army or Police have no permission to enter LTTE- controlled areas with arms and ammunition, and in uniforms. He wanted to know whether the UNP has made this request in a sane mind. MEP Leader Dinesh Gunawardena said that the government has also violated the accepted financial regulations and tender procedures. He also charged that the UNF waived off debts estimated at more than Rs. 200 billion due to the Government from smugglers, bootleggers, drug-runners and money launderers. The Alliance also charged the UNF of being an exception, when 130 countries became signatories to the UN Convention Against Corruption in December 2003. He also reminded that it was the UNP which avoided endorsing an action plan for the Asia Pacific region to fight corruption at the fourth regional meeting of the Asian Development Bank and the Organisation for Economic and Co-operative Development initiative. Former JVP MP Vijitha Herath and President's Counsel M. M. Zuhair were also present. |
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