“Govt. boasts of war efforts in N-E unaware that it is spreading to the South and into their own midst!”

(December, 05, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) John Amaratunge, UNP Parliamentarian addressing a Media meeting at the UNP Media Unit made special mention of the present insecurity, instability, rising crime wave, corruption and fear psychosis gripping the country, not to mention the burdens and hardships faced by the people because of the senseless and ruthless power greed of this Rajapakse regime unheeding the country’s progress and people’s interests.

Under the 1978 Sri Lanka constitution, he explained that it is the paramount duty of the Govt. to provide security, safety and protection to the people of the country. Can you see even an iota of this being provided by this Govt..? , he asked. But, of course, the President, his Ministers, kin and henchmen are having security in copious supply on people’s money.

The irony of all this is that it is these very people who are harassed on the road blocks when the President or his Ministers travel with their massive security; it is the people who die and suffer when there are bomb blasts due to Govt.’s security lapses; it is the people who are taxed and burdened by the Govt. to atone for the economic blunders of the Govt., he added.

Tell me one sector that this Govt. has spared from its menace and devastation? He asked.

The war which was confined to the North and East is spreading to the South too judging on the news reports from those areas. Today, there is news of clashes with LTTE in Yala. And, if the Govt. does not forestall these trends, the Sinhalese in those areas will also be displaced, he grieved.

Law and order, an essential aspect of governance is totally broken down. According to Police statistics, the ‘grave crime’ figure alone shows a sharp increase this year compared with last year.

Not a single development program has taken place since this Govt. was installed.

Tourist Industry routed with US, UK and Australia warning its tourists against travel to Sri Lanka as most insecure and unsafe even to carry money.

Human rights violations uncontrollable and steeply rising.

Country’s foreign image totally tarnished Foreign Diplomatic relations at the lowest ebb stemming from the President downwards not having clear vision or policies in regard to International relations. Each uttering what comes to his undisciplined mouth.-the recent Pakistan episode is a case in point.

Free Media no longer free to express the truth being subject to the worst threats, intimidation and witch hunt.

Economy in a shambles.

Ministerial and Govt. corruption on a scale worse than the volcanic eruption!
To a question posed whether Amaratunge could say for sure it is the Govt. planting bombs in high security zones, he said, this is a reasonable inference as only somebody with influence could pass the tight security checks.

Answering further regarding the UNICEF as an Organisation helpful to Sri Lanka, he said, if the UNICEF has supplied food to the LTTE, certainly it is something most objectionable irrespective of its assistance.