Presidential outburst stirs post-Cabinet meeting with UNP Ministers

Thursday, 28 January 2016 01:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

During a post-Cabinet meeting with UNP Ministers including Premier Ranil Wickremasinghe, President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday vented his frustration over what he described as “nothing happening”.

Sources said that President was visibly very angry and emphatic when he had said a common claim was that “nothing is happening,” and people and the private sector were losing patience.

Sirisena has claimed that he cannot face the people when touring the provinces as the masses believe progress since 8 January 2015 was not up to their expectations. “We need to get down to action rather than just talk,” the President had said. “If needed we must put the right person to get a job done, make the administration efficient and deliver results,” Sirisena has added.

Insiders viewed President’s outburst as a sign of his frustration as well as his coming under lot of pressure to deliver on promises made during elections. His leadership stakes are also under threat within SLFP with growing discontent as some opine, with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa gaining more ground despite his humiliating defeat 12 months ago.

The majority of the private sector also believes that their business and the economy are struggling since confidence and sentiments are very low on account of indecision as well as reversals in decisions and policies announced. However other observers speculate whether the “nothing is happening,” remark is an orchestrated campaign to discredit the unity Government which has made major inroads in terms of political reforms, and have outlined a stronger and inclusive economic vision.

JVP demands Govt. recoup MR’s ill-gotten money

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Opposition Lawmaker Anura Dissanayaka yesterday charged the Government for lethargy and allowing the members of the Rajapaksa regime to get away with owning bank accounts maintained abroad.

Highlighting the statement made by the Cabinet Spokesperson on 14th January with a summery of foreign accounts maintained in Dubai by a member of an influential political family and three close supporters, MP Dissanayaka demanded Government explanations.

“One account has $ 1.086 billion. The other account owned by a former politician and a businessman has $ 500 million. A joint account maintained by a former secretary and a head of an establishment has $ 1.8 billion. A Government MP has witnessed Rs.4.2 billion being illegally credited by the former rulers in their foreign bank accounts. What action have you taken about these accounts? Has any other person come forward with details about these accounts? Have you received any more complaints about foreign bank accounts? What action have you taken and what is the progress of the investigations? I believe the Government is dragging its feet with all details in hand,” charged MP Dissanayaka.

According to MP Dissanayaka, these moneys should be brought back to Sri Lanka. “This is nothing more than public wealth stolen from us. The culprits should be punished. This has been a key slogan at the past Presidential and General elections. Government was in power for over one year. No investigations were seen against such issues,” he said.

The Minister of Higher Education and Highways and Leader of the House of Parliament Lakshman Kiriella promised to reply to the MP Dissanayaka’s concerns soon.