By
Dasun Edirisinghe
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was keeping President Maithripala Sirisena under his thumb and the latter was helpless, National Freedom Front (NFF) leader and former minister Wimal Weerawansa said yesterday. What the country had at present was a UNP government in all but name and the SLFP had no say in it. “If the SLFP is part of the government as some people claim how come SLFP members are being attacked all over the country?”
The NFF leader was addressing a massive rally held under theme: ‘Make Mahinda PM’. It had been organised jointly by the NFF, the MEP, Democratic Left Front led by Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya led by Udaya Gammanpila.
Weerawsansa said people should not be misled by the claim made in some quarters that there was a national government.
“It is totally controlled by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, who even sits in the seat meant for the President in Parliament. This shows Wickremesinghe’s attitude. It is a pity even the likes of JHU General Secretary and Minister Champika Ranawaka who had derided Wickremesinghe by calling him Don Juan Dharmapala was grovelling before him. The JVP which accused Wickremesinghe of grave human rights abuses during previous UNP governments is now supporting his government. JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has no qualms about backing the Wickremesinghe government to the hilt.”
The only way to save the country was to make former President Mahinda
Rajapaksa Prime Minster while Sirisena functioned as President, Weerawansa said. “Wickremesinghe managed to avoid a contest with Mahinda Rajapaksa in January by taking cover behind Sirisena, but he will have to face Mahinda next June,” the NFF leader said. “The present government promised to bring those responsible for the alleged theft of public funds and corruption to justice. But, it has not been done so far. Instead, the UNP has launched a vilification campaign against former President Rajapaksa, who rendered yeoman service to the country and defeated terrorism. It is all out to destroy his image as it fears him.
It is ludicrous that politicians like Ranjan Ramanayake are behaving like overgrown schoolchildren by visiting Temple Trees and being photographed with swords, pretending that they were made of gold. The people do not fall for such gimmicks and blatant lies. Mahinda should be thanked for leaving those items behind at Temple Trees. Some of the previous leaders even took away valuable photographs that had been hung there.”
The NFF leader said MPs were not authorised to conduct raids on any place. Not even the police could do so without a court order, he said, adding that a rumour had been spread that his wife would be arrested. “I am waiting till such an attempt is made. So far not even a statement has been recorded from her. It is only part of a malicious propaganda campaign against us.”
The government had taken the people in general and the government servants in particular, for a ride, he said. Weerawansa said, “The prices of essential commodities have not been reduced and the promised pay hike has not been granted.” Our government reduced taxes on hybrid cars to cut down on the country’s fuel imports, protect the environment and give people relief, but the new government has increased taxes on those fuel efficient vehicles and slashed taxes on Indian vehicles for obvious reasons.
The NFF leader said the new government had agreed to release 1,000 acres in Palali regardless of the adverse effect such action would have on national security. Journalists had been sacked at the behest of the leader of the government which was extolling the virtues of good governance and media freedom, he noted.
The postponement of the UNHRC report on Sri Lanka by six months was aimed at placing Mahinda at a disadvantage at the June election, the NFF leader said, promising a clean government free from political dregs after the June election with Maithripala as President and Mahinda as Prime Minister. What the UNP was enjoying at present was only an ‘interval in hell’, the NFF leader said.
The NFF leader said more than half a million people had gathered at Nugegoda without being transported in buses. “Azath Salley declared he would give up politics if we brought 5,000 people for today’s rally. I ask him to honour his promise like a man.”
Political Scientist, journalist, former university don and ambassador, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke read out a message issued by former President Rajapaksa: “Our defeat was the outcome of a conspiracy. I embrace the people who attend today’s rally. I am sure those who voted for me as well as many others have converged on Nugegoda today in support of our cause. I am used to defeat, abuse and even jail terms. In 2005, I won the presidency with difficulty. I showed my gratitude to the people by defeating terrorism. The people expressed their gratitude by helping me win in 2010 with a huge majority of 1.8 million votes. Neither the SLFP nor the UPFA has really lost. They still have the majority in Parliament as anyone could see. I will never disregard people’s hopes and aspiration.
MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena said the new government had grossly abused executive powers as evident from the illegal ouster of Chief Justice Mohan Peiris. “It is a big joke that the same person has appointed both the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader. I ask Ven. Maduluwawe Sobihtha Thera very respectfully whether he cannot see threats to national security and hear the voice of the hundreds of thousands of people who have gathered at Nugegoda today.”
The MEP leader said 28 SLFPs MP were struck in the mammoth crowd, unable to come on stage.
Among the prominent participants at yesterday’s rally were: Kumara Welgama, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, T. B. Ekanayake, C. B. Ratnayake, Manusha Nanayakkara, Salinda Dissanayake, Dilum Amunugama, Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, Western Province Minister Nimal Lanza and several other councilors
Courtesy:The Island