Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) today heavily criticized the Defense Ministry for the recent blunder it made by publishing a derogatory op-ed article insulting the Indian Prime Minister and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
In a statement issued today, the UNP said the "slip-up is emblematic of the pathetic state of affairs" in handling Sri Lanka's foreign relations. The party said the Ministry of Defense had failed to understand the most elementary fact that opinions published on its official website are reflective of the opinions of the Government.
The UNP alleged that like all other state institutions and agencies, the Defence Ministry has become severely politicized under President Rajapaksa's government, "with incompetency and nepotism triumphing over experience, ability and basic intelligence." The party said the President's call to probe the incident, which nearly escalated into a diplomatic row, and provide a report was "nothing more than ridiculous and farcical". "After all, who is the administrative or bureaucratic head of the Ministry of Defence? Who after all, is the Minister in charge of the subject? Will the President investigate himself? Will he inquire into the conduct of his brother and powerful Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa?" UNP asked.
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