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| Saturday, 15 January 2005 |
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| Rajitha, GL campaigning against Govt-UNP joint disaster relief ? Some members of the UNP Working Committee are reportedly planning to take up certain statements attributed to Prof. G. L. Peiris and Dr. Rajitha Senaratne which are in conflict with the written proposals of the Working Committee sent to the President by the UNP leader. While the UNP Working Committee had urged in writing the utilisation of aid and assistance in restoration projects such as major highway networks, Prof. G. L. Peiris and other UNP activists were campaigning against the UNP leadership supporting the government in restoring normalcy in the affected areas by suggesting that aid funds be not utilised in any major project such as new township for the affected tsunami regions. Most members of the UNP Working Committee do not want survivors of the tsunami disaster to be condemned to live once again, in poverty stricken squatter conditions but had said that would support the government's plans to open new townships and hamlets with basic facilities and infrastructure away from the country's beaches. This is the time and opportunity to reorganise the entire country, they said, the government spokesman said. The UNP has urged President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to ensure the restoration of major highway networks, fisheries, harbours, supply of electricity, health services, schools and drinking water and has urged the government to ensure that aid and assistance received be utilised for specific restoration projects, in addition to assisting the people who have lost their properties and income. The UNP has also requested that the affected people be provided with financial assistance to rebuild their houses within six months. The government has also been urged by the UNP to ensure the recommencement of the fishing and tourism industries within six months and to ensure the recommencement of affected business ventures within one year. UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in a written request to President Kumaratunga dated January 11, 2004 has forwarded these proposals which the UNP Leader has said was formulated by the party's Working Committee. A government spokesman while welcoming the UNP's January 11 proposals to utilise aid and assistance for major highway, fisheries, electricity and health restoration projects, said the government has given top priority for all tsunami related restoration projects on a crash program basis and will not therefore delay implementation for such long periods as six months and one year as accommodatingly envisaged by the UNP. President Kumaratunga had prioritised action from December 29 on all the matters raised by the UNP leader in his January 11 letter, excepting the proposal to set-up a Community Action Committee in every local authority, the spokesman said. The government is willing to accommodate reasonable delays in implementation in order to consider views of the UNP, other Opposition parties including the TNA religious and business leaders, and concerned civil groups of the country but will not permit any delay in reconstruction measures of restoring the affected areas benefiting the people, the spokesman said. |
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