PM request LG members to ignore party politics

when distributing relief items to flood victims

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had informed the UNP local government members not to focus on party politics when distributing relief items for victims of natural disasters.

According to sources close to Prime Minister, has issued a statement after receiving complaints those UNP members in the grass root level and ex local government members are only distributing relief to UNP supporters.

He has sent this instructions through party Chairman Malik Samarawickrama.

Meanwhile cabinet spokesman and Minister of Health Dr Rajitha Senaratne said that updates on flood situation are sent to Prime Minister four times a day and he is fully aware of the current situation. “Prime Minister had gone for a medical checkup which he had been putting off for 18 months. He had to go as he could not put it off,” the Minister said.

However the Minister fell short of mentioning as to why the Prime Minister had to undergo medical tests.

Also the Minister said his colleague Minister of Disaster Management Anura Priyadharshana Yapa could not be in the country at the time it faced a disaster as he could not find an airline which could fly to Colombo on the day the disaster occurred. Further he said even a direct flight from Mexico to Colombo would have taken 3 hours to reach the final destination. “The Minister faced these difficulties,” he said.

Minister Yapa was attending a conference on Global Disaster Management in Mexico.