Ranil tells Opposition to stop criticising party leaders

Wednesday, 9 December 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday advised new UPFA MPs to avoid criticising political leaders of all parties, including present and past presidents.

Addressing the House, the Prime Minister wanted UPFA lawmakers to stop criticising their party leader President Maithripala Sirisena openly in Parliament.

“Times for debates were allocated by respective party leaders. Please talk to them directly if you have displeasures. But don’t criticise the President Sirisena openly in Parliament,” he said, rejecting the criticism of UPFA MP Indika Anurudda.

“Don’t call President J.R. Jayawardena a thief. He developed this land on Diyawanna Oya and built this Parliament with the architect Geoffrey Bawa. He donated 50 acres of his Manelwatta Estate to Malwatte Temple and his house too. Neither President Jayawardena nor Premadasa stole public money. I have associated with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa more than any of you. President Premadasa built one million houses. Unless President Jayawardena developed Gampaha, which was later developed by me, there will be no such area,” added Prime Minister.