Harin, no challenge to UPFA- Deputy Speaker

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody said even the UNP’s Chief Ministerial candidate for the Uva Provincial Council election Harin Fernando has admitted that he is not in a position to win the Uva PC election and become its Chief Minister, let alone throwing a challenge to the UPFA.

Fernando hopes to become the Opposition Leader of the Uva Provincial Council. He never said that he would win the election and become the Chief Minister. This is a clear reflection on the plight of the UNP, the Deputy Speaker told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

He said if not for President Mahinda Rajapaksa, we would have never enjoyed the fruits of peace and freedom. After the three decades-old terrorism was eradicated President Rajapaksa had led the country to prosperity.

When he assumed office in 2005, there were only 2.2 million telephones in the country. This has increased to 22 million today. The number of three-wheelers which was 215,000 in 2005 has increased to 850,000. The number of motorcycles has doubled from 1.1 million to 2.7 million. All these significant developments have been made during the tenure of President Rajapaksa.

The Deputy Speaker also referred to the changes made in the media too. In 2005, there were only six television channels in Sri Lanka.

At present there are 18 television channels each of which telecasts news hourly. Despite these significant achievement, the Opposition says that there is no media freedom in the country.

The majority of the people have realised the development success, despite a small segment of people opposing the progressive policies of the UPFA government.