Harini going to supermarket, Prez walking to work: time to stop grandstanding: opposition MP

Colombo, December 2 (Daily Mirror) - Referring to the recent actions of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya which has gained much publicity, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha today said both should stop grandstanding

The MP was referring to the report that said Prime Minister Amarasuriya had visited a supermarket on her own and the report that President Dissanayake had walked from the Presidential Secretariat to the Finance Ministry.

“The Prime Minister's grandstanding comes at a time when the country is hit by a serious natural disaster. She should learn to manage her time. She has so many institutions under her purview which need her attention. She should focus on these rather than putting up a show and wasting her time,” the MP said.

“We can do the shopping for you, Prime Minister,” he added in a lighter vein.

“I have the same remark on the actions of President Dissanayake. He does not have to do grandstand by walking but should manage his time even by using a helicopter,” the MP said.

Also, he said the recent flood could be an ill omen triggered by not reciting Jaya Mangala Gatha at the ceremonial opening of the tenth Parliament.

He said the Rs 1 billion which the government has allocated to provide relief to those affected by the floods is hardly sufficient. “At least Rs 20 billion is needed to provide proper relief,” he said.