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

• Says govt’s Rs. 1Bn flood relief allocation is inadequate

 By Yohan Perera   

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  yesterday 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.