Maithri takes Mangala to task

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena yesterday advised his one-time Cabinet colleague UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera to engage in Maithree Bhavana to overcome the affliction of hatred and enmity he felt towards President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Minister who spoke after the UNP MP during the Second Reading of the Budget debate said, “Mangala Samaraweera should go to a temple and engage in some meditation. It will do him good.”

Many parts of MP Samaraweera’s speech were expunged from the Hansard when he attempted to accuse the Government and the President during his speech.

Minister Sirisena accused MP Samaraweera of speaking with malice. “President Rajapaksa made him Foreign Affairs Minister and also gave him two additional portfolios, those of Ports and Aviation.

But he messed up these portfolios and it was a group of us in the SLFP who told the President to take action against him,” the Minister said.

Public Administration Minister W.D.J.Seneviratne also condemned MP Samaraweera’s speech and said it was malicious.

The Minister said the MP spoke in the House in an irresponsible manner. This kind of remark will only strengthen the hands of enemies of the country” he said.