Mangala's speech condemned

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Foreign Employment Promotion Minister Dilan Perera told Parliament yesterday that the UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera in his speech made in Parliament attempted to provoke racism.

The Minister speaking at the debate on the Second Reading of the Budget 2011 urged MP Samaraweera not to encourage those who attempt to promote racism in this country.He said Samaraweera's speech was exactly the same which Suresh Premachandran made last week in Parliament.Minister Perera also accused the MP of giving distorted information to mislead the House.

According to Minister the MP in his speech has said that the Government is going to settle 1000 families of Armed Forces in Kilinochchi with the intention of setting up Army camps in those areas. The Minister queried as to how the MP interpreted a settlement of families as a setting up of Army camps. The Minister also catagorically denied the statement made by Samaraweera that a religious ceremony was prevented by the Army. The Minister however said no room can be made to promote terrorism under the pretext of religious ceremonies. The MP in his speech also noted that the next Eelam War will be orginated in Washington, he said.

Minister Perera said Samaraweera is having a hatred against the President.