UNP supports Govt. on fighting dengue, but…

The United National Party (UNP) is fully behind the government with its fight to eradicate dengue. This is to safeguard the people and the party fully supports it, said Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the media at his official residence.

Kicking off the anti-dengue campaign at the official residence, Ranil Wickremesinghe however said that the campaign may end as a success or an utter failure. The reasons for it to be a failure are stronger, he said.

The former Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has gone on record as saying that eradicating dengue mosquitoes was no big deal for a government that has defeated the ruthless Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said the Opposition Leader.

However, a General who helped defeat the terrorists is now languishing behind bars. A Samurdhi official involved in an anti-dengue campaign was tied to a tree over some minor allegations. In a situation like this, officials have shown reluctance to effectively engage in these campaigns, said Ranil Wickremesinghe.

These actions of the government and its supporters may spell doom to the anti-dengue campaign as well, said Mr. Wickremesinghe.