After Mahinda Rajapaksa became President, the people in his family became trillionaires while more than Rs.8.5 trillion has been separated for them, Secretary of the United National Bhikkhu Front Thiniyawala Palitha Thero stated.

Speaking at a press conference held today (December 9) in Colombo, he said that the President’s daily expenditure is about Rs.20 million.

Sharing his views on the UNP and Sri Lankan politicians, he claimed that UNP MP Sajith Premadasa along with a private television station and a newspaper is attempting to destroy the UNP while he blamed rulings made by former Chief Justices Shirani Bandaranaika and Sarath N. Silva for politicians crossing over to different political parties.

Palitha Thero stated that the country is under the rule of a family and that unlike the Prime Minister of Thailand who stepped down due to public dissatisfaction, nothing of the sort will occur in Sri Lanka.

He also pointed out that although drug users are being thrown in jail, the criminals who are responsible for large scale drug dealing are free.

He added that nothing was achieved by spending Rs.17 billion on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) either.

Secretary of the United Bhikkhu Front, Bopitiya Dhammissara Thero, who joined the press conference, stated that the country was not moving towards democracy and that there was no media freedom in Sri Lanka.

He also added that the UNP Leadership Council was expected to bring revolutionary changes to the party and that Sajith Premadasa had turned his back on it.