People speak on UNP's role towards Government's development activities
 

by Ananda Kannangara

A banker in the mercantile sector Supun Perera highly commended the recent crossovers by a section of UNP MPs and said that they have been given the opportunity to help the Government in its future endeavour.

"The members could play a major role to solve the national crisis by strengthening the hands of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and also bring down the cost of living," he opined. He also called on the JVP to be more practical and help the Government like the UNP which had pledged their support.

A state sector employee Hemasiri Jayalath commended the UNP's move and asked the JVP also to follow suit considering the future in the country. "They must now give up the hide and seek game as it is their duty to support the Government to win the war," he said. School teacher Ratnasiri Samaraweera welcomed the decision taken by the UNP MPs, but lamented on the impact on the cost of living which is skyrocketing day by day. "I feel the present Cabinet is too huge, therefore it is the duty of some ministers already in the present Cabinet to resign from their portfolios which will ease the burden on the Government.

A 43 year old grocery shop owner S. Babu anticipates the newly appointed UNP MPs to contribute to solve the national crisis and bring down the cost of living.

"They should not think only about the perks, but provide relief to the ordinary poor man who is struggling with the cost of living," he said.

A dentist Sarathchandra Samarasinghe is hopeful that the duty of the UNP as well as all political parties irrespective of their differences is not forgotten to support the Government to win the war. "We are surprised as to why the JVP which played a major role in helping President Mahinda Rajapaksa to win the last Presidential election, do not want to cooperate with the Government now. They must follow the example set by the UNP MPs," he said. He also wondered as to why the JVPers are playing hide and seek with the Government as well as with the people of the country.

A strong JVP supporter from Kandy Athula Kandegedara said "We do not bear any grudges with the Government, but they seem to have completely forgotten the past. They sidelined the JVP after they joined hands with the UNP and never sought our support whenever important decisions were being taken,"

A journalist, Ariyasena Handuwela pleaded with the newly appointed UNP MPs to work hard by setting an example that they took such a decision not to look after themselves for their own comfort, but for the sake of the country and the people.

School boy Kamalan Devaraj said the Government must get rid of Norway as demanded by the JVP and then JVP might extend their support like the UNP did recently," he said.

Gayantha Samarasiri asked the JVP to support the Government like the UNP had done to solve problems rather than accept portfolios.

"If the JVP do not cooperate with the Government they may in the near future be cornered by peace loving people," he said.

A 34 year old Kandy based company manager Gihan Wickremesinghe asked the new group not to go after portfolios but set an example to the masses by working hard to eliminate terrorism.

"These UNPers expressed different views on the Northern crisis and the cost of living before they joined the Government and so now let us wait and see what they can do to rectify the present situation," he said. Nimal Peris of Navinna, Maharagama said President Rajapaksa should not entertain any more UNP MPs. If that happens to country's economy will face a further decline. "I have a strange feeling that the new band of UNP crossovers will not help the Government to bring down the cost of living. Their main interest is their own perks," he said.

A University student and JVP supporter Gayani Kumarasinghe was sceptical of the alliance which could be able to solve the national crisis.

"The Government, at least now, with the guidance of Ministers like Milinda Moragoda and G. L. Peiris must commence peace talks along with the help of the international community," she said.

47-year-old Sumith Palliyaguru of Kelaniya said "We don't mind if the JVP do not support the Government as long as the UNP is with them,".

"However I would request the JVP to refrain from inciting trade unions to hold demonstrations on roads at this juncture when the Government is taking all efforts to combat terrorism and also bring the cost of living down," he said.

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