UNP urges UPFA nominees to reveal account balance

Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariawasam addressing the media briefing yesterday at Sirikotha. Highways and Investment Promotion Former Deputy Minister Eran Wickramaratne was also present - Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

By Chamodi Gunawardana

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday asserted that the United People’s Freedom Alliance’s (UPFA) nominees should reveal their account balance to the public ahead of the upcoming election.

Former Deputy Minister of Highways, Higher Education and Investment Promotion, Eran Wickramaratne, told the media at Sirikotha that the UPFA’s nominees should expose how they managed such a luxurious life with a monthly salary of Rs. 54,000. 

“Most of the UPFA candidates were former MPs. We all want to know how they lived in such comfort with such a salary,” he stressed.

Wickramaratne alleged that those who had been proven guilty still remained UPFA nominees. 

“The UPFA has ignored a few candidates due to allegations of corruption against them. However, other culprits have obtained nominations. The UPFA has proven again that it still follows the same wrong political agenda,” the former Deputy Minister said.

Highlighting a story published in British newspaper The Guardian, the former Deputy Minister said that the newspaper had included Sri Lanka on a list of countries that were currently facing a financial crisis. 

“The Guardian has said that our country is facing a financial crisis. This has happened because of the past Government’s poor economic policies. The previous Government did not allow some countries, such as Germany, to invest in Sri Lanka. Why? Because those countries did not agree to pay commissions and bribes,” Wickramaratne claimed.      

Speaking about the UNP’s future plans, Wickramaratne said: “The previous Government did not pay much attention to exports and investments. During the last nine years Sri Lankan production was at a low level; exports halved. We expect to move forward with foreign investments,” Wickramaratne said.

Also addressing the media briefing, former Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam stressed that the UNP would definitely defeat former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Kurunegala at the forthcoming election.

“Kurunegala is our native area. We have walked each and every corner there. People have recognised us as good leaders and social workers. They place their trust in us,” Kariyawasam emphasised.

 Pic Shehan Gunasekara