PNM says the government has 'no strength to chase UN workers away'

PNM president, Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara, told media in Colombo that the government is not "powerful enough".

He compared the Sri Lankan government to a "bull without the tail".

"We have no strength to chase them away," he claimed.

UN workers 'thieves'

The Sinhala nationalist leader made these remarks as Sandeshaya pointed out that withdrawal of UN workers were halted due to protests by the residents in Vanni.

He said: "UNO is a rubber stamp of the Western nations. All those UN personnel are thieves. The problem is that we don't have leaders with spine such as Chavez or Morales in Bolivia to tell them 'get out'"

UNO is a rubber stamp of the Western nations. All those UN personnel are thieves. The problem is that we don't have leaders with spine such as Chavez or Morales in Bolivia to tell them 'get out' Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara

The PNM said it will organise protests in the south if the NGO and INGO workers fail to comply with the government order to pullout from the LTTE-held territory.

Dr. Amarasekara accused LTTE led by Velupillai Prabhakaran of trying to establish a human shield using Internally Displaced People (IDPs).

The Tamil Tigers, he said, are heavily dependant on NGOs and INGOs working in the rebel-held areas.

“These people are not refugees. This is a temporary humanitarian measure and they will be allowed to go back home soon,” he said.

The PNM supported Mahinda Rajapaksa presidency at the November 2005 presidential elections.