The UNP yesterday called on Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena to reveal the consumer goods pricing agreement he had entered into with traders.

Kandy District UNP MP, Lakshman Kiriella said at a news conference in Colombo, that according to the contract, traders have been given the freedom to increase prices once in three months.

"Gunawardena should disclose the details of the agreement without fooling the people by effecting token price reductions," he said. "These are what you call Election Gundus.’’

Kiriella said that the recent reduction in Bank interest rates meant nothing, because most of the monies in the State Banks had already been taken by the government and there was hardly anything left for the private sector and individuals to borrow.

"Loans granted by the Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank to the State, has increased by 90%, while there has been only a 1% rise in credit provided to the private sector."

Referring to the Opposition’s common candidate at the next Presidential Poll, he said that it was a matter for them and not the government. "They are trying to decide on who our candidate would be, but it is none of their business."

Kiriella said that several Ministers had visited Gen. Sarath Fonseka and shamelessly pleaded with him not to contest the next Presidential Election.