Opposition outcry over Govt.’s “Operation Oppression”

Monday, 21 April 2014 00:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Acting Leader Karu slams Govt. over attack on UNP parliamentarians in Hambantota
Recalls Weliweriya, Katunayake FTZ and Chilaw fishing protests
Mattala airport is not HSZ, it’s an uncleared area: Karu
Eran says report on Hambantota air and sea ports and observation mission will be presented to Parliament soon

The main Opposition UNP yesterday charged that the Government is reigning by unleashing what it described as “Operation Oppression” following the mob attack on visiting parliamentarians at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota last week. “The Mattala airport is supposed to be a high security zone. But it appears that it’s actually an uncleared area. This is the seat of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s power,” UNP Acting Leader Karu Jayasuriya told a press conference at Sirikotha yesterday along with MPs who were subjected to the mob attack during an inspection visit that had prior approval by relevant Government authorities. “The Rajapaksa Government’s main modus operandi is oppression,” Jayasuriya charged, recalling the violent deaths of peaceful protestors at the Katunayake Free Trade Zone, the Chilaw fishing protests and Weliweriya.

“We will continue to work towards creating a people-friendly Government that will frame its policies on good governance and transparency.” The UNP Acting Leader said that the attack on UNP MPs had been deeply insulting to the entire 225 member Parliament. UNP MP Eran Wickremaratne who also addressed the press briefing said all five MPs who had toured the Hambantota area last week would present a report on their observation tour to the UNP Leadership Council and to Parliament. “We obtained approval to visit. These are projects built by the Sri Lankan tax payer, it is their right to know how they function,” he said. He said that the media personnel accompanying the UNP MPs had not been permitted to participate in the tour. “This makes it clear that the Government has something to hide,” he charged. Parliamentarians Ajith Perera, R. Yogarajan, Ajith Mannamperuma and Nalin Bandara also participated at yesterday’s press briefing. (DB)