25 April 2012 02:00 pm Views - 5456
Mr. Wickremesinghe said most people believed that the Indian-produced Agni-V missile could be a threat to neighbouring nations including China. However he said with the increase in the price of fuel, electricity, food items and transport there was nothing that was shooting higher than the cost of living in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Wickremesinghe said Central Bank Chief Ajith Nivard Cabraal was responsible for the rising prices and the downward spiral of the economy and pointed out that the government had not taken any action to rectify these issues.
“People should be more concerned about the Cabraal-missile than the Agni-missile. The people have suffered because of it and we are asking the government to increase wages,” he said adding that the rising cost of living will be the slogan for the UNP May Day rally in Jaffna.
“The rising cost of living has affected everyone irrespective of their race or religion. It’s the government duty to address these issues and while doing so to also address national issues,” Mr. Wickremesinghe said and stressed the need to protect and strengthen democracy, media freedom, and people’s rights.
He expressed these views when Electoral and District organisers were appointed at a party event at Sirikotha.
Former UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya and attorney-at-law Sujeewa Senasinghe’s were not present though their names were also called out. UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa was also not present. (Olindhi Jayasundere)