Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has said those who raised their hands during the previous government for postponing the Provincial Council elections are asking now at the Geneva Commission why Provincial Council elections have not been held. “We, who were in the Opposition at that time, opposed the postponement of the Provincial Council elections. When the then government was making plans to postpone the Provincial Council elections, the Tamil political parties in the North joined hands with the then government and voted in favour of it. They are shouting now for holding Provincial Council elections.”

Minister Gunawardena made these observations, speaking at a meeting after opening a newly constructed road in Madiwela.

“When we were in the Opposition we fought for protecting democracy in this country. Even today, we as a government are doing so. After the presidential election held in 2019, a new government was elected democratically. With the COVID epidemic, the world is experiencing an economic downturn now. That situation is common to our country as well. But we are committed to facing all those challenges and building a prosperous country by looking after the needs of the people. The government is taking steps to provide drinking water, electricity and even toilet facilities to the people. All should work together in harmony to provide the maximum benefit from such government activities. I am always committed to fulfilling the needs of the people of Maharagama, as your political representative of this area.”