United National Party General Secretary (UNP) Palitha Range Bandara said that when President Ranil Wickremesinghe brings in the Act to apprehend those who stole government property, skeletons in the cupboards of those who are yelling to catch thieves will come out
and they are in fear of that. He made this comment during a media briefing held on Thursday at the UNP Headquarters, Sirikotha.
“When the parliamentary session commenced, those who do not consider the country but think only about gaining power boycotted it,”Range Bandara said.
He said that the accusations that have been hurled at the President for days were crushed by one missile in the speech made by the President.
“Since the Opposition Leader and the Opposition could not face this they avoided attending the session. The President declared on this occasion that an act will be brought in to catch persons who are stealing public property,” he said.
He said that if there is an honest desire to catch thieves, then they should approve of it. The Opposition is scared that the skeletons in their cupboards will come out. The noose will fall on the necks of those said to catch the thieves.
“The President explained why taxes are being charged from the people. The Opposition said that taxes will not be charged under a government of theirs. Will Aladdin’s amazing lamp come into
being for them to provide relief to the people?, he asked.
The UNP General Secretary said that maintaining institutions that make losses puts pressure on the people. “That is why steps will be taken to restructure 55 institutions. Government employees protested against taxes. 95 percent of government employees are those obtain less than one hundred thousand rupees as wages. Taxes are charged from those holding high posts”, he said.
People of this country paid taxes to allow them to have free education in this country. So, is there any fault in their paying taxes on behalf of the people of the country? Only 11 percent of
employees of the private sector belong to this system of taxes.
He added that Lahiru Weerasekera held a media briefing and had asked what the government has done for farmers. They do not know of these things by simply protesting on roads. Lahiru Weerasekera is unaware that the government provided last month, ten thousand rupees and 15
liters of diesel to farmers who are cultivating more than one hectare of land and twenty thousand rupees and 30 liters of diesel to those who cultivate land more than two hectares in extent. They
only know how to hold protests and violate basic rights of the people.
The President succeeded in protecting the system of banks which was collapsing overall. If he did not do that the economy of the country would have been smashed into smithereens.
People are scared of living in this country because the frontline parties and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna might come forward. People have not forgotten 71, 88 and 89.
“The government spent only 11 million rupees on the Independence Day celebrations. President Ranil Wickremesinghe summoned officials and inquired into expenditure estimates unlike any
other President. He looked into all expenditure and took steps to reduce it. Rs.97,000 had been estimated for the garland for the statue of D.S.Senanayake but ultimately only Rs.1,500 was
spent. He is providing leadership from the top to eradicate corruption,he said.