Fri, Oct 25, 2013, 08:32 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Oct 25, Colombo: Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) says that the government will not be able to mislead world leaders by giving them free food and drinks at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo next month.UNP parliamentarian Harin Fernando says the international community was well aware of the goings on in the country and the government's conduct.
"The government thinking is that organizing the CHOGM and that it would be a dansala where free food and drinks would be offered to world leaders to divert their attention from the real issues in the country," Fernando said.
He noted that holding the summit without the participation of Canada and India is similar to 'a wedding without the bride.'
"Half the population of the Commonwealth lives in India. If India is not coming it will be like a wedding without the bride," he said.
He said the opposition has requested the government to show the expenses the country is incurring to hold the summit but no response has received from the government yet.
Fernando pointed out that the government needs to understand the consequences of its actions.
