Cabinet Spokesman and SLPP MP in war of words over Government's popularity
Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella and Galle District Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Parliamentarian Chandima Weerakkody are engaged in a war of words over the media regarding a statement made by Mr Weerakkody regarding the Government's popularity.
The spat began after Mr Weerakkody told journalists on February 28 that he had concerns over the conduct of the Government. He warned that people were disgusted with the SLPP at grassroots levels and claimed the people would reject it if it did not correct its ways.
When questioned over the comments, Mr Rambukwella told a media briefing in Kandy "the people have not rejected the
SLPP, but they seem to have rejected him (Mr Weerakkody)."
Mr Weerakkody hit back at a media briefing in Galle yesterday. He likened the Cabinet Spokesman's pronouncements to Greek mathematician Archimedes running through the streets naked shouting 'Eureka.'
"He says I was rejected by the people. I was placed fourth out of seven MPs elected to Parliament from the Galle district," the MP said, adding that he made his earlier comments with the aim of directing the Government back on the correct path.
"If we continue this way believing what he (Mr Rambukwella) said is true, then our Government will face many more challenges," he added.
Eleven President’s Counsels and former Presidents of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) have expressed “serious concern” that the contents of the report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into Political Victimization may “undermine the Rule of Law in this country, impair independence of the judiciary and erode impartial and efficient functioning of the Attorney General’s Department.”
The senior lawyers, have written to the Secretary of the BASL over news items carrying purported excerpts of the CoI’s proceedings. The lawyers include the incumbent President of the BASL, Mr. Kalinga Indatissa PC and the Presidentelect, Mr. Saliya Peiris PC.
They have requested the BASL Secretary to take action to apply and obtain from the Secretary to the President, a certified copy of the entirety of the proceedings of the Commission along with the report submitted by it and make it available for their perusal and by any other members of the BASL who may be similarly concerned.
The letter has been signed by PCs, Mr. K. Kanag-Isvaran, Mr. Ikram Mohamed, Mr. Faisz Musthapha, Mr. Upali A. Gooneratne, Mr. Geoffrey Alagaratnam, Mr. Romesh De Silva, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Mr. U.R. De Silva, Mr. Nihal Jayamanne, Mr. Upul Jayasuriya and Mr. Saliya Peiris.