Govt.`s duty to offer permanent solutions

UNP Deputy leader and MP Karu Jayasooriya speaking at a media briefing today (24) at the UNP media auditorium on the havoc wrought by the torrential rains and the floods , and the acute sufferings of the many thousands of people who have fallen victims , said , at least at this time of National disaster , the Govt. and its Ministers should act with greater concern and sincerity towards providing relief to the victims rather than providing some lunch packets , water and dry rations , and labor to display their faces in the media while making these meager distributions.

This is a time of National disaster and the Govt. must treat it so , not a time for Govt. politicos to exploit to gain a political mileage , he added. . 535,000 persons have been displaced and  14,000 refugee camps have been established which demonstrates  the seriousness of the situation. 

The Govt. should take full responsibility for this national disaster , as illegal buildings erected and illegal filling of lands by Govt. politicos and  persons enjoying political patronage had precipitated this situation. The unfortunate feature  of this is ,  that , finally it is the poor people who have to face this devastation , not the politicos.

He compared the incapacity of the present Govt. to meet this emergency with the efficient and effective measures taken by the UNP govt. in power in 2003 , when the worst floods in SL ‘s history afflicted the country. 23000 houses were destroyed and 26000 houses were damaged at that time and many lakhs of people dispaced  . The UNP Govt. deploying all the resources ,provided relief to the victims instantaneously . The UNP Govt. enlisted the support of the Ministries, Provincial Councils , District Councils , the Grama sevaka divisions and International Organizations , and solved the problems of the suffering with great success, Mr. Jayasooriya pointed out.