2 February 2022 08:01 am Views - 283
By Yohan Perera
The United National Party (UNP) yesterday urged the government to make the 2022 Independence Day celebration a simple one without a military parade.
UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara who made this suggestion said the Independence Day ceremony will cost the country a fair amount if the armoured cars and other military vehicles and aircraft are displayed. “It is not correct to waste funds at a time when the country does not have enough to purchase fuel,” he said,
“Also the ceremony carries a serious health risk. If one person with COVID-19 attends the ceremony, there is a risk of a large number including the members in the military and the police getting infected. Sri Lankan government should follow the example of India which had a simple ceremony where Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation without getting exposed to people,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Range Bandara said his party is currently having a dialogue with 16 political parties and other organisations to prepare a national plan for the nation. “These discussions are being carried out by the centre of policies which has been set up by the party,” he said.