The United National Party today accused the government of turning the country’s election process into a “cricket tournament” and development into exhibitions.

UNP National Organiser Daya Gamage stated that when the People’s Alliance (PA) government came to power 20 years ago the country’s debt was Rs 750 billion and that now that amount has risen to Rs 7,500 billion.

Even children who have not been born yet are indebted around Rs 431 000, he said, addressing a press conference joint opposition group ‘Vipakshaye Virodaya’.

This goes to show that the Rajapaksa government possesses no economic strategy and that even though they win elections they have no ability to strengthen the country’s economy, he said.

Nawa Sama Samaja Party (NSSP) Leader Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne , also speaking at the briefing, stated that UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe had signed a “historic agreement” with LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and took measures to achieve peace.

Terming it as the “greatest fearless act” by Wickramasinghe, he stated that it is not a task that those with “weak legs” and those afraid of extremist powers can achieve.     

He stated that this peace agreement was even more powerful than the agreement reached between the Kings ‘Elara’ and ‘Dutugemunu’.

He stated that the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) document, with proposals put forward by Prabhakaran during the peace agreement, contained 26 points which are the same conditions included in the document recently presented by the Chief Minister-elect for the North C.V. Wigneswaran.

He stated that when Ranil Wickramasinghe took this ISGA document for discussion, Wimal Weerawansa and Mahinda Rajapaksa then did not even allow for it to be translated to Sinhala and took to the streets in protest. “It still has not been translated to Sinhala.”

Dr. Karunaratne charged Mahinda Rajapaksa, Wimal Weerawansa and the rest of the then opposition of sabotaging Ranil Wickaramasinghe’s operation and dragging the country back to war.

He stated that after being elected as President, Mahinda Rajapaksa obtained funds and weapons from countries such as the US, UK, Israel and India and signed agreements with these countries surrendering the country to them.

He stated that after thousands perished and the war ended, the government held elections in the North. As the polls came to an end the leader of the Tamil people presented the ISGA document again and said, “Here this is what we are asking again.”