Launching a scathing attack on his Cabinet colleague Ravi Karunanayake, UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa said a person who burgled a bank would never be held in high esteem in society. 

Addressing an event in Hambantota, Premadasa said only a person who constructed a bank would earn respect and not those ones who burgled it. 

Although Premadasa did not mention Karunanayake's name, it was quite obvious that the Cabinet Minister's scathing remarks were targeted at Karunanayake who recently expressed critical views of Premadasa.

Premadasa reminded the audience of Karunanayake's alleged links to Arjuna Aloysius, a controversial businessman who was at the heart of the Treasury bonds fiasco. 

"It's not the birth that define one's character. One's value is gauged by their deeds and actions." 

"Some people are supposed to give light to the people's lives; but they can only give darkness," Premadasa said , referring to the recent power cuts that occured under Karunanayake's watch as the Power and Energy Minister. 

"Whenever they assume a role, they make a mess of it and tarnish their own image," the UNP Deputy Leader also added.