UPFA National List MP J.R.P.Suriyapperuma hurled abuses at Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament yesterday calling him an old man (nakiya) and a fool who will soon be thrown out of power by the Indian people. Eighty five year-old Mr. Suriyapperuma, who is four years older than the Indian Prime Minister directed his ire at Premier Singh for failing to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Colombo last month.
“The Indian Prime Minister who promised to attend CHOGM and did not come has been rejected by the people at the election held to five Indian states. The old man (nakiya) will be thrown out of office soon. This fool has gone and created a new state in India now,” Mr. Suriyapperuma said while speaking during the Committee Stage debate of the Ministry of External Affairs.
He added that India is no longer a giant but a bug (bin kunda).
The UPFA parliamentarian also insulted British Prime Minister David Cameron calling him a “political ghost” who was losing power in the U.K. He went to the extent of calling him a scoundral (kalakanniya). He also directed his ire at U.S. President Barack Obama calling him a black man (kalla) whose skull will be smashed by the joint powers of Russia and China.
“China is our external friend. If not for the weapons that China and Pakistan gave us, we would not have won the war,” he said.
Mr. Suriyapperuma did not spare the Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe either; he said that it was not blood but gingerly oil (thala thel) that ran in his veins.
“He does not love this country. I knew it many years ago,” the MP said. Several opposition members expressed their displeasure at the comments made by Mr. Suriyapperuma with UNP Colombo District MP Ravi Karunanayaka saying that stupid statements made by UPFA MPs antagonising foreign states will make Sri Lankan vulnerable.
“Mr. Suriyapperuma spoke as if the world is inside Sri Lanka,” he said. UNP Ratnapura District MP Ranjan Ramanayaka also said that it was shameful the way that certain government members behaved towards foreign dignitaries. ”When the UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay was here one minister proposed marriage to her.” The External Affairs Minister is yet to issue a statement apologising for this,” Mr. Ramanayaka said.
None of the government members present including External Affairs Minister G.L.Peiris who were presents when Mr. Suriyapperuma made the remarks against world leaders seemed perturbed by his conduct.
By Chandani Kirinde
ST