UNP’s latest gimmick, a political stunt

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said that the UNP’s latest gimmick to visit public institutions was a political stunt as it was plagued by dissension.

The UNP wants to make headlines in newspapers and in that sense, I don’t think it is a bad idea.

But they try to visit some important institutions such as the oil refinery without following the proper procedure, the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

If UNP parliamentarians are keen to visit such public institutions, they should get prior permission.

Firstly, we should know who is accompanying them. Else, we can’t let them go to those places haphazardly, he said.

The Minister said UNP members should also realise that they are Members of Parliament. They need to understand how to get prior permission to visit a public institution.

“I don’t think gatecrashing is a good thing for parliamentarians. Even if they do it in their electorates, they will have to face the music,” the Minister said.