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| Friday, 24 September 2004 |
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| UNP has no moral right to talk about COL - Mangala by Ranil Wijayapala and Rajmi Manatunga The United National Party (UNP) has no moral right to talk about or criticise the UPFA's management of the cost of living and the fulfilment of pledges given to the people since the UNP had not been able either to control the cost of living or fulfil their pledges to the people. "It is a democratic right of any person to protest the rising cost of living. But UNP has no moral right to talk about it since it did nothing to control the cost of living during their regime," the Minister added. Addressing the Cabinet press briefing at the Government Information Department, Samaraweera said it was unfortunate that UNP was trying to take political advantage out of the crisis faced by the Government in wake of soaring oil prices. "It is sad to observe the UNP acting like this while responsible Opposition parties in other countries in the region are working together with their Governments to face this crisis," the Minister added. Minister Samaraweera argued that UNP has no moral right to urge the UPFA to fulfil the pledges given to the people as UNP which gave promises to people in 2001 not only ignored their pledges but also put people into more trouble. "People are the only jury which can judge whether the UPFA Government fulfilled their pledges to the people or not," the Minister added. The UNP which pledged to strengthen the hands of the farmer community cut off the fertilizer subsidy soon after it came to power, increasing fertilizer prices to more than Rs.1,000. "They assaulted unemployed graduates who demanded jobs from them in Colombo and Matara, going against the promises they given to them at the 2001 election," Minister Samaraweera added. The minister said the UNF Government could not handle the cost of living at a time oil prices in the world market rose only by 2.3 per cent within the first six months of their regime. But they increase the diesel price by 13.1 per cent, kerosene price by 11.49 per cent. Even though world oil prices have now risen by 90 per cent, the UPFA Government only increased diesel prices by 12.5 per cent and petrol by 19.3 per cent. The Minister also pointed out that a kilo of Samba rice increased only by 5 per cent during the first six months of the UPFA Government against the 6 per cent increase in the first six months of the UNF regime. Minister Samaraweera also said the Government has launched development projects in all parts of the country and provided 41,000 jobs for the unemployed graduates soon after coming to power. "We took steps to reduce fertilizer price by providing the fertilizer subsidy soon after coming to power," Minister Samaraweera added. "The Government has taken steps to provide school uniforms for all schoolchildren at the appropriate time," he added. He said President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga will also launch the 'Sangwardhana Sangrama' programme to fulfil development needs in every part of the country. The UNP is now trying to cover up their political bankruptcy by misleading the innocent people of this country. "People will decide who is suitable to take the country forward at appropriate time," the Minister remarked. |
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