Appoint eligible people : UNP

7 April 2011 11:40 am Views - 4305

The UNP today in Parliament asked the government not to give political postings to retired military personnel and relatives of those who are at the helm of affairs since they could not handle subtle diplomatic issues.

UNP Senior Vice President MP Lakshman Kiriella, during the emergency debate, said that such persons could not counter allegations into human rights violation and the suppression of media freedom in the country.

“We ask the government to appoint eligible people and restore the country’s image tarnished by such allegations,” he said. 

Mr. Kiriella also said that the law and order was not maintained properly in the country, and therefore the aggrieved parties had been compelled to seek redress from the UN and other international bodies.  He noted that Sri Lanka took a neutral stand in the UN when a resolution was brought against Libya recently.

“Ruling party politicians are very vocal against the UN in the country. However, they act differently outside the country. They should have courage to stick to the same stand both here and abroad,” he said.

He said,“Sri Lankans learned about the existence of the Human Rights Commission only through President Mahinda Rajapaksa. President Rajapaksa went before this Commission as a then MP against human rights violations in Sri Lanka in 1989. Others are following the example set by the President at that time.” (KB/YP)