Why did Ranil leave country if elections are coming in April asks former colleague

RANIL WICKREMESINGHE’S FORMER COLLEAGUE QUESTIONS WHY DID THE UNP LEADER LEAVE FOR BHUTAN AFTER PREDICTING ELECTIONS IN APRIL.

By Walter Jayawardhana

Ranil Wickremesinghe, the leader of Opposition was predicting publicly that the government would collapse in the month of April and the President of the country would be compelled to to call general elections. But surprisingly Wickremesinghe had left the country and touring in Bhutan. If the General Elections are round the corner why is he out of the country until the end of the month questioned Minister Rajitha Senaratne, and member of the UNP reformist group.

Rajitha Senaratne was addressing a public function of the Batahena Gramodaya Society meeting in Morontuduwa Wadduwa to declare open a rural housing project.

He said as his former cabinet colleague and leader Ranil Wickremesinghe over and over again was thought to be the victor before every election but never became the victor in reality because he was rejected by te country and never accepted by the common people.

Senaratne said Wickremesinghe always brought disappointment to people like him and the rest of the UNP members and with leaders like him they were going nowhere.

He asked what kind of leaders would predict elections, give false hopes to the members and would not even stay in the country during the period he was predicting the elections are coming.

Senaratne said it was very necessary for politicians like him to join the government of President Rajapaksa because he wanted to do some work for his voters. He said for instance the government was implementing a program called Gama Neguma under which parliamentarians were given fifty million rupees to develop rural roads, electrification, water supply, school buildings, community centers, libraries to the rural sector of the economy. He said he had to be with the government to implement such schemes and help his electors. Speaking as a former member of the group led by Ranil Wickremesinghe, he said under the present generations of youth there are no people who boast that if you cut yourself you bleed green, the color of the party of the UNP. He said today, people want governments that could help the common man and that was the reason he left Ranil Wickremesinghe and joined the government.

Meanwhile the Information Department issued a statement contradicting a news story published in a pro-UNP newspaper that said President Rajapaksa also would leave the country during the Sinhalese New Year on vacation. The Department of Information said President Rajapaksa would not leave the country during the Sinhala and Hindu new year period and he will definitely celebrate the new year with his countrymen and the armed forces who are fighting the country’s enemies.

The statement said the misleading story had been definitely written to misinform at the behest of the masters of the newspaper.

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Today in Cricket History

BORN

1867: HRH Prince Christian Victor, one first-class game for I Zingari 1887
1870: Syd Gregory, Australian batsman in 58 Tests from 1890-1912
1876: Murray Bisset, South African wicket-keeper 1899 and 1910
1904: Lionel Birkett, WI vice-captain on Australian tour in 1930-31
1905: Holmesdale Charles “Slinger” Nitschke, S.Aust & Test batsman
1916: Commandur Rajagopalachari Rangachari, India in 1947-48
1925: H.G.Kishenchand, 5 Tests for India from 1947-52
1931: Bruce Pairaudeau, WI opening batsman in 13 Tests, 115 on debut
1943: Harilal Shah, East African batsman in 1975 World Cup
1947: Bob Massie, Australian swing bowler, 16 wkts on debut vs Eng 1972
1960: Pat Symcox, South African off-spinner from 1993-98
1965: Craig McDermott, tireless Australian pace bowler from 1984-96
1969: Saiful Islam, Bangladesh ODI pace bowler from 1990-97
1984: Umar Gul, Pakistan Test pace bowler from 2003

DIED

1964: Bert McGirr, two Tests for NZ, 51 runs @ 51, 1 wkt @ 115
1989: Lance Pierre, one Test WI vs England 1948, DNB, 7 overs 0-28

MILESTONES

1995: India beat Sri Lanka to win the Asia Cup final in Sharjah

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Lanka Page wishes all readers a happy and prosperous Sinhala and Tamil New Year

 

 

“The Sinhala and Hindu New Year is a festival celebrated by the majority of the Sinhalese and Hindus. It is a religious and cultural festival, where people of Sri Lanka celebrate the New Year irrespective of class, creed or community.

In April (the month of Bak) when the sun moves from the Meena Rashiya (House of Pisces) to the Mesha Rashiya (House of Aries) Sri Lankans begin celebrating their National New Year Aluth Avurudhu in Sinhala and Puththandu in Tamil. However, unlike the usual practice where the New Year begins at midnight, the National New Year begins at the time determined by the astrologers. Not only is the beginning of the New Year but the conclusion of the old year also specified by the astrologers. And unlike the customary ending and beginning of new year, there is a period of a few hours in between the conclusion of the Old Year and the commencement of the New Year, which is called the nona gathe (neutral period). During this time one is expected to keep off from all types of work and engage solely in religious activities.