The UNP always honoured and respected Buddhism and gave it the pre-eminent position in the country. Its leadership included true and genuine Buddhists who would never leave room for a division of the country, Justice and Prison Reforms Minister Thalatha Athukorale said.
Furthermore, the UNP would always protect war heroes who fought with dedication to free the country of terrorism. As such, it would never allow anyone take our war heroes before any court here or abroad, the Minister said.
She was speaking at the inauguration of the Kahawatte Mini Diyawara Community-based organisation on Sunday.
Rs. 825 million has been allocated for the water supply and sanitation improvement project of the City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education Ministry. It is due for completion in December.
Minister Athukorale said as UNP Ministers and MPs, they never aspired for special perks or privileges.
The only benefit she had obtained was the official vehicle and the personal security. For instance, Minister Sajith Premadasa still travelled in his private vehicle, shunning any official vehicle.
Some people failed to realise these facts. The previous 20-year rule was a period of robbery, fraud and corruption. A majority of state officials from divisional secretariat level and upwards engaged in politics without doing an honest service.
It was learnt that some of them lit crackers to express joy when Mahinda Rajapaksa took oaths as Prime Minister recently. She would request all public servants to render an honest job of work because those who shirked their duties would be brought before the law, she said.
The Minister said the UNP had accomplished a great amount of service during the last three years, surpassing what the previous regime did for almost 20 years. The UNP had a leader capable of steering the country forward towards development, without unnecessary publicity and fanfare. Opponents were criticising him as a non-Buddhist without foundation, because he did not resort to gimmicks such as tapping people on the back and carrying and fondling children.
The UNP did not fear to face any election at the appropriate time, because it had rendered an honest job of work, surpassing the work of previous regimes, she said.
from daily news