"About 42,000 families who have given up their land for the benefit of the country have not been paid. The oldest is about 25 years."

  UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya confirmed that Algama was a UNP supporter and had been ‘disgusted’ over the ‘disunity’ of the UNP and had stressed the need of unity within the party.

July 26, 2010: This government is controlled by companies, American, Indian, international and Israeli rulers, says Dr. Wickremabahu Karunaratne, party leader of the Left Front.

Dr. Karunaratne was addressing a media briefing convened by the Palestine - Sri Lanka Friendship Society in Colombo yesterday on a statement alleged to have been made by the Sri Lankan ambassador to Israel, Air Chief Marshall Donald Perera,  during an interview to a newspaper.

“This proves where our government stands today. There is no need for  doubt. The truth is that this government is purely controlled by Companies, International, American, Indian rulers, and rulers of Israel.

“These actions are designed to achieve their own ends by tricking the Muslim community and the poor community of Sri Lanka and the international community too. Therefore, we must strongly object to this,” said Dr. Karunaratne.

Analysts say Sri Lanka's state has lost billions of rupees trying to do business with people's money. Last year just seven state enterprises, including those with monopoly protection, lost more than 50 billion rupees, or around one percent of gross domestic product.