Government Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa has acknowledged that there seemed to be an error in the figures reported by NPP MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi regarding the cost of SMS sent with festival wishes to the public.
Addressing a recent political rally, MP Kottahachchi had claimed that the government had saved Rs. 98 million by not sending the annual Sinhala and Tamil New Year SMS message from the President of Sri Lanka this year.
Speaking to Kalindu Karunaratne of Ada Derana, Government Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said the cost mentioned by the NPP MP seemed erroneous, adding that she had taken it from a report circulated on social media.
“The NPP is here to make a change in the political culture. As such, we must take extra responsibility for the statements we make. The shortcomings in this end cause harm. We are doing our best to rectify these mistakes,” he said.
When asked about allegations that the government was making false statements, affecting its credibility, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the party was taking the incidents seriously and had already intervened to rectify them.
“We have engaged in discussions with party members involved in such incidents and have taken necessary measures to rectify them. Keeping these incidents as examples, we brief and discuss with the entire party in this regard. These matters are not taken lightly,” he added.
The Government Spokesman pointed out that the actions and statements of one or five MPs cannot lead to the assumption that the entire Government is lying or making false statements.
Minister Nalinda Jayatissa added that in instances such as these, the government has taken responsibility, and has gone to the extent of rectifying or apologising during Cabinet Media Briefings.
NPP MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi’s statement had referred to the cost during the previous Ranil Wickremesinghe Government.
Responding to the claims, officials from former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s camp denied that a sum of Rs. 98 million had been spent on New Year SMS messages sent to the public.
Taking to ‘X’, Dinouk Colombage, attached to the former President’s office, said that messages wishing the public for Avurudu from the previous Presidents were dispatched free of charge and were a service provided by the telecom providers. (Newswire)
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