By Skandha Gunasekara

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa charged that the government had attempted to sabotage the Pada Yathra protest walk from day one of the march.

Addressing media persons during the walk yesterday, the former President alleged that attempts to disrupt the walk began with the arrest of his brother and former Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa.

“They tried to upset the Pada Yathra by arresting Basil. Then they used other childish methods to trouble the movement. We were barred from entering Mawanella town through a Court Order. However, today we learnt that close to one thousand people were gathered in Kandy town because the President was coming to visit a Pradheshiya Sabha office. Kandy town is impassable because of the congestion caused by the crowds. This was somehow allowed. The law didn’t apply in the case of the government,” Rajapaksa said.

He alleged that the Government even resorted to using ambulances to disturb the march.

“Several private ambulances were going up and down Kandy road for no real reason. With their sirens blaring they tried to unsettle participants in the walk. They have arrested my son Namal. They did this before and I’m sure they will continue to do so even after the walk is over. Irrespective of these obstacles we will continue this Pada Yathra,” he said.

He went on to say that people were calling for a change in Government as they were being oppressed.
“Several people came up to me during the march and told me that they now regret voting for this regime. They said that their lives had become difficult, especially with the VAT increase. This movement is only the beginning.”

Courtesy:Ceylon Today