by
Shamindra Ferdinando
Having failed to clinch an agreement with the SLFP on a seven-point plan to address several contentious issues including parliamentary democracy and good governance among other matters ahead of the next presidential election, JHU General Secretary Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday announced an action plan to pressure the government.
Addressing the media at the National Library Services and Documentation Board, after having handed over a letter informing President Mahinda Rajapaksa of his decision to give up Science, Technology and Atomic Energy portfolio, Ranawaka said that Udaya Gammanpila would give up Agriculture, Agrarian Development, Minor Irrigation, Industrial and Environment portfolio of the UPFA-run Western Provincial Council.
Responding to a query, Ranawaka said his party would continue to remain with the UPFA parliamentary group.
The JHU had been accused by a section of the government of pushing for the abolition of executive powers at the behest of the NGOs and Western powers, Minister Ranawaka said.
The JHU had been also criticised by various interested parties for acting hastily at the expense of the SLFP-led ruling coalition, the former minister said. However, they had conveniently forgotten that the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa assured the country in 2005 his desire to do away with the executive presidency. The President repeated the same promise at the last presidential election in January 2010, Ranawaka said, adding that the JHU couldn’t contribute to the next presidential project under any circumstances.
JHU heavyweight said that the party wouldn’t have felt the need to launch a fresh campaign if not for President Rajapaksa calling for early presidential poll. Ranawaka reminded that President Rajapaksa also assured the former JHU leader Ven. Ellawela Medhananda Thera that far reaching constitutional amendments would be introduced. The assurance was made at Dalada Maligawa on Sept. 13, 2005.
Ranawaka lambasted the government for promoting the interests and wellbeing of a few at the expense of the vast majority of Sri Lankans struggling to make ends meet. Responding to a query, Ranawaka said that the government would retaliate though the JHU was acting in the public interest.
After having wished President Mahinda Rajapaksa a very happy 69th birthday, JHU leader Ven Omalpe Sobitha Thera urged the SLFP leader to recollect the circumstances under which he had won the presidential election in Nov. 2005. Recalling the story of King Mahesen, Ven. Sobitha Thera said that President Rajapaksa couldn’t afford to turn a blind eye to the ongoing campaign calling for the restoration of parliamentary democracy.
Stressing that the JHU had to take up the cudgels for the country, Ven. Sobitha appealed to President Rajapaksa not to consider them as enemies but friends, who genuinely wanted to safeguard his interests.
Ven. Athureliya Rathana Thera as well as Udaya Gammanpila said that though many appreciated the JHU’s struggled they didn’t want to incur the wrath of the government by publicly backing them.
The JHU leadership vowed to pursue its struggle whatever the obstacles. Recalling the JHU launching a protest campaign at Mavilaru in 2006 in the run-up to the eelam war IV, the JHU said urged people to rally around the party to pressure the government to take measures to stop further deterioration of the ground situation.
Responding to a query, Ranawaka said that a very influential section of the government went out of its way to set up mega casinos in Colombo even after the Cabinet rejected the controversial move. Ranawaka said that the JHU had the wherewithal to campaign against the move in spite of threats. The former minister said that he could reveal hundreds of similar situations over the past four years. In fact, the JHU, in spite of being in the government had the guts to take on those promoting mega casino projects while the Opposition was doing precious little.
Courtesy:The Island