Minister Lanza tells Sajith to get facts right before pointing finger at govt.

By Norman Palihawadane

Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure State Minister Nimal Lanza on Tuesday said that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa should get his facts right before pointing finger at the government whenever something went wrong.

“Now, the Opposition Leader blames the government for the ferry disaster in the Kurunchenkerny lagoon in Kinniya. It is his party men, with the SLMC, who are running the Kinniya Urban Council that gave the permit for the ferry service. They are responsible for the tragedy, but the Opposition is blaming us.

The Opposition Leader should blame his party men for giving that permit for ferries to transport people, exposing them to danger,” Minister Lanza said during an inspection tour to the Muthurajawela marshland to meet people there.

Minister Lanza said that the government extended its condolences to the victims and an investigation was underway into the unfortunate incident. Eleven other children had been admitted to hospitals in Kinniya and Trincomalee, he added. The ferry was transporting around 25 children and teachers to school at the time of the incident.

“Some claim the ferry belongs to the Road Development Authority. That is not true. There is a need to construct a bridge across this lagoon. Those now trying to blame the government did nothing to construct the bridge during their yahapalana government. We have commenced the work and we will expedite that project. It is the urban council there that should be held responsible for giving the permit for the unsafe ferry to operate in this dangerous place,” the Minister said.

Police Media Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police Nihal Talduwa said the bodies of the victims were kept at the Kinniya Hospital.

SSP Nihal Talduwa said Police and Navy teams had been deployed to search for the missing.

The Navy says it deployed eight rescue teams to locate the missing persons, following the ferry tragedy adding that the rescue and recovery mission comprised teams representing the Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) and the Special Boat Squadron along with Marines and Divers.