He was reacting to a statement made by Finance Minister Amunugama during an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The SLMC Parliamentarian noted that the Government was having ‘some sort' of statistics and going around making claims. He also pointed out that the Government's grant of Rs. 5000 as a start-up allowance to each tsunami affected family, in addition to the Rs. 500 worth of goods and essentials provided weekly to each affected family was creating a lot of confusion among the victims.

"In many areas only fishermen and those working in Wadiya's or ice factories are benefited by this Rs. 5000, but what about those indirectly involved with the fishing industry, but earns his living by selling fish, what happens to that man" Mr. Ali questioned. He pointed out that there is a major lack of coordination, with each Divisional Secretariat's having their own rules.

Reacting to Minister Amunugama's criticism against certain media, where he alleged that media institutions was giving a wrong impression to the public by ‘misreporting' , the SLMC MP stressed that everyone should be thankful to the media for exposing many irregularities. He cited a Sunday Newspaper as an example, which carried photographs of such irregularities.

Amunugama during the interview had assured that there will be no injustice or bias towards any citizen or community in the Government's drive to rebuild the lives of tsunami victims. During an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama said, "I would not say that the entire process is 100 per cent perfect. However the Government was able to face the country's worst ever disaster due to the firm dedication and support extended to the Government by the people", the Minister said.

The Minister claimed that his Government has been able to provide relief assistance to over 70% of the tsunami victims. "The Government is also granting Rs. 5000 as a start-up allowance to each tsunami affected family. In addition, Rs. 500 worth goods and essentials are provided weekly to each family affected by the tsunami," he said. Published: Wed Feb 16 12:48:40 EST 2005

Sources told the Lanka Academic that even though the JVP had initially planned to release a statement countering President Kumaratunga’s statement, the hurried news release issued by the Presidential Secretariat the very next day claiming that Ms. Kumaratunga had been ‘misreported’., had made them change their mind, ‘at least for the time being’.

A press release issued by the President Secretariat claimed that President Kumaratunga "did not in any way specify any political party or person" in her controversial statement of Sunday. "Certain sections of the media have chosen to interpret President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's address at Nittambuwa on Sunday 13th February, wrongly and with malicious intent.

Sources also claimed that despite this press release, the JVP is however still wondering whether to react to her speech or not. Several private news channels however have continuously replayed the entire speech in which the President did call a ‘particular group’ to leave her Alliance. Published: Wed Feb 16 12:45:09 EST 2005