UNP PROVINCIAL COUNCILLORS BOYCOTT FUNCTION

If this is a National Government it is the duty to invite the Prime Minister also for this functio

At the Council meeting held on 03rd July the opposition leader of the provincial council Manju Sri Arangala raised the issue of the non-invitation of the Prime Minister for this function and the non-inclusion of the name of the Western Province Governor in the list of invitees. In reply the Chief Minister Isura Devapriya had then stated that as this was not a National Event, only the President had been invited and there will not be a change in that. He had said further that as the Governor was not among those of the political authority his name was not included in the list of invitees.

“If this was the stand adopted by the Chief Minister, our group would boycott all activities up to the 12th including the opening function of the new building” asserted the chief organizer of the opposition George Perera. Thereafter, all UNP councillors walked out of the meeting.

When the question of nonparticipation at this event was posed to George Perera he said: “When a National Government is in office, fostering this position we supported the Budget and whenever supplementary estimates were brought up, but the Chief Minister ignoring all these had invited only the President for this event. If this is a National Government it is the duty to invite the Prime Minister also for this function”. They have failed to include the name of the Governor in the Invitation. It is usual that when advertisements of this type of functions are published to include the photographs of both the President and the Prime Minister. But none of the advertisements published on this occasion carry the Photograph of the Prime Minister.therefore,our group met and unanimously decided to keep away from attending this function”.

During the opening of the new building of the council former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga who was present was seated on the chair of the opposition leader of the council.