By

Shamindra Ferdinando

Sri Lanka’s former ambassador to Teheran M.M. Zuhair, PC has pledged his support to Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

After having signed the ‘Common People’s Agenda for Just, Democratic and People-friendly Governance’ at Vihara Maha Devi park yesterday, Zuhair told The Island that he recently formed a new political outfit-National United Front (NUF) to promote the interests of all communities.

Zuhair served as a PA National List MP (1994-2000) during Chandrika Kumaratunga’s tenure as the President. Subsequently, he served as Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Iran during the conflict.

Zuhair played a significant role in arranging an Iranian credit line that helped Sri Lanka to obtain fuel supplies on concessionary terms at a critical stage of the war against the LTTE.

Zuhair said that as a responsible Sri Lankan he felt the need to support the opposition presidential candidate. Responding to a query, Zuhair said that UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe invited him and he also had an opportunity to speak with Maithripala Sirisena.

The former PA man said that he intended to register his political party. Zuhair alleged that the country was facing an unprecedented crisis due to: (1) the total breakdown of the Rule of Law, (2) the erosion of democratic institutions essential for governance, (3) an unprecedented widening of social disparities and social injustices and (4) severe strains on co-existence between different ethnic and religious communities and increasing disharmony and distrust.

Zuhair said that the incumbent President led the country to victory over the LTTE. The battlefield triumph wouldn’t have been possible without the support extended by all communities. However, the government had subsequently ignored the contributions made by others.

The non-career diplomat said: “The last four years, following the end of the war, the country had been allowed to be dragged down towards religious and ethnic confrontations with even places of worship not being spared, while the ruling party and its leaders watched indifferently, without a word of condemnation. The rule of law was being violated with impunity giving the horrendous impression that the rulers were behind the violations.”

“While there was appreciable development going on, the country had been burdened with massive debts that have to be settled for another three generations. Meanwhile the cost of living had shot up to oppressive levels”, he added.

CourtesY:The Island