Lankan minister dares opposition to prove charges against President

With allegations and counter-allegations running rife,a senior minister has dared the opposition to prove the corruption charges against Rajapaksha and the first family.

With less than a month left for presidential polls,electioneering tempo is picking up fast in Sri Lanka,with allegations and counter-allegations running rife,as a senior minister has dared the opposition to prove the corruption charges against Rajapaksha and the first family.

Mass Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene challenged the opposition to prove the charges that the President and his family had purchased hospitals and large tracts of land,besides other things.

Describing the charges as “baseless”,Abeywardene was quoted in the government website as charging the opposition candidate war hero Sarath Fonseka of using sections of media for making “frivolous” corruption charges against the President.

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He termed Fonseka as “Santa Claus” for promising huge salary hikes that he said were “beyond reality” and would “empty the treasury”.

Meanwhile,at an election gathering in Homagama in Western Province,Fonseka said,”If Singapore and Malaysia and other countries resurrected their economies by corruption eradication,why can’t we?

“In those countries,Ministers were jailed and some even committed suicide when the corruption eradication campaign started,” the opposition UNP’s website quoted Fonseka as saying.

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