John reconsiders

16 September 2010 04:15 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 15 Bookmark

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By Jamila Najmuddin

UNP MP and Chief Opposition whip John Amaratunga says he has decided to reconsider his decision to be part of a delegation to the UN led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Amaratunga had been invited by the External Affairs Ministry to accompany President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the UN and he had earlier accepted the invitation.

However speaking to Daily Mirror online a short while ago the UNP MP said he has now reconsidered his move owing to pressure from within the UNP.

"A few people within the party objected to my invitation and therefore the party leader requested me to reconsider. I accepted the invitation as I saw nothing wrong with visiting the UN with the government delegation but now I am reconsidering the move and may not attend the UN sessions," MP Amaratunga said.

The UNP MP says he will be visiting the US on a family matter but will not join the Sri Lankan delegation visiting the UN for the sessions scheduled to take place next week.

President Rajapaksa has already left for the US to attend the UN sessions next week while his delegation will leave over the next two days. (Daily Mirror online)

Comments - 15

Royalist Thursday, 16 September 2010 04:18 PM

Looks like MR has whipped the opposition whip... what's the deal on the table?

4 48

Dina Thursday, 16 September 2010 04:23 PM

why need more money...!!??

5 46

Sujeewa D Thursday, 16 September 2010 05:08 PM

No more opposition in Sri Lanka!

4 26

Babanis Thursday, 16 September 2010 06:16 PM

These are the politicians we have in the UNP today.

0 37

pj Thursday, 16 September 2010 07:41 PM

More jokers!

0 39

kalpage Thursday, 16 September 2010 11:39 PM

Good to see you take a stand as an opposition member.

5 21

Sarath fernanado Thursday, 16 September 2010 11:40 PM

I think it is a good practice to include opposition MPs in a government delegation. This is a common thing in the West. I remember JR including SLFP MPs in the official delegation to the UN. This would have been a golden opportunity for the UNP to raise their concerns on democracy in the UN. Wonder how many UNP MPs were invited?

6 11

Gane Thursday, 16 September 2010 11:46 PM

Here we go again!

1 10

Premalal Friday, 17 September 2010 12:21 AM

- You have done nothing for Gampaha!

2 23

dave Friday, 17 September 2010 04:26 AM

being in opposition party is one..but being in opposition of the country is never acceptable..

2 8

malkanthi Friday, 17 September 2010 04:35 AM

JR's calibre is different to the present, this is probably a trick to habour this headless party fellows, in order to get the maximum advantage to convince UN in some way or the other!

1 11

suwimal Friday, 17 September 2010 05:07 AM

First the self interest, then any other interests.

1 18

Bluff Bluff Friday, 17 September 2010 06:11 AM

Do you also plan to strengthen the "arm"?

0 6

Faqi Friday, 17 September 2010 07:47 AM

At the time of Independence the UNP was a party of patriots, stalwarts and Statements, today it is a shadow of what it once was. Its such a sad episode in the politics of Sri Lanka.

0 4

Nandagupta Friday, 17 September 2010 06:24 PM

It is too bad that our minority party members think they are enemies of the majority party! Minority members are part of a democratic society and they should have the freedom to vote according to their conscious and the wishes of the electorate!

0 0

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