Government lawmakers on Friday referred to those who incited violence during the Mirihana protests on Thursday night as political extremists and not religious extremists. However, Transport Minister Dilum Amunugama said that the word ‘extremist’ may have been wrongly used and said, instead that it should have been ‘terrorists’, as only terrorists set fire to vehicles.
Ministers Keheliya Rambukwella, Prasanna Ranatunga and Dilum Amunugama spoke to the media on Friday to respond to concerns over the public protest that was held opposite the Mirihana residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday, March 31. Referring to the word ‘extremist’, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that the Government had not referred to religious extremists. Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella also echoed the same clarification noting that the Government referred to political extremists and not religious extremists.
Serious damage to property
Minister Ranatunga said that the President ordered the use of minimum force to disperse the protesters at Pengiriwatte Road, Mirihana on Thursday night. He said the protestors caused serious damage to public and private property, until the early hours of Friday.
The Minister said that after the President ordered the use of minimum force the crowds dispersed within half an hour, adding that the President was very patient on the matter. Ranatunga said the people have a right to protest adding that the right to protest should be for the betterment of the country not to lead the country into a state of anarchy.
He said there are some things that are beyond the Government’s control, and incidents that were witnessed on Thursday would lead to a state of anarchy. In addition, a group of politicians representing the ruling party had visited the President’s residence at Mirihana on Friday morning. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Ministers Bandula Gunawardena, Namal Rajapaksa, Prasanna Ranatunga and Keheliya Rambukwella were among those present.
Hundreds of people reportedly gathered near the entry road to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence in Mirihana on Thursday night. The protesters were demanding that the Government provide immediate solutions to the various issues presently faced by the people such as the extended power cuts and fuel shortages.
The protest had also resulted in severe traffic congestion in the area. The protesters, holding placards and shouting slogans, demanded that the Government provide immediate solutions to the fuel shortage, power crisis, gas shortage and the soaring commodity prices. Riot Police used tear gas and water cannons on the protesters as the agitation turned violent with stones and other objects being hurled at security personnel and damages to public property.
Apolitical process
UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe called on the Government to provide evidence to back its claims of extremist elements being behind the mass protest in Mirihana on Thursday.
In a video statement, the former Prime Minister also called on political parties to stay away from peaceful public protests, and to instead engage in a process that finds solutions to the people’s problems through an apolitical process.
He said on Friday, “Last night at Pengiriwatte, Mirihana, the public agitation reached boiling point due to the lack of solutions to their issues, adding that this incident to be proof of a breakdown in the contemporary political system. The Government has failed to provide relief to the people’s problems.”
“The Government is making allegations against various groups in connection with this incident, hence I urge it to provide proof and evidence to back these claims and expose these actors,” he said.
MR most suitable PM
The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said that the party has not taken any decision to nominate UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the country’s next Prime Minister.
Minister of Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena told the media that no one in the SLPP is unwise enough to select such a person as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Abeygunawardena said that UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe comes from one of the oldest political parties, yet is unable to secure at least a single seat in Parliament, proving his failed leadership.
SLPP General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam also said that when the most suitable person; Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is holding the position there is no necessity in seeking a new Prime Minister.
Caretaker Govt
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has decided to urge President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to form a Caretaker Government after holding discussions with all political parties. The decision was taken at the SLFP’s Central Committee meeting convened for nearly three hours on Friday at the party headquarters, amidst the rolling power interruptions.Following the meeting, SLFP Senior Vice President Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa told the media that all Central Committee members unanimously voiced their displeasure in continuing to be in the Government.
Prof. Piyadasa said the Central Committee decided to let the Party Leader, former President Maithripala Sirisena to take a decision in this regard. Meanwhile, SLFP Leader Maithripala Sirisena told the media that the party intends to hand over a letter to the President detailing its stance and requests pertaining to the present situation. SLFP General Secretary State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said the SLFP members would be compelled to step down from their ministerial portfolios if the Government fails to take action.
Call to form interim Govt
Eleven Government-allied political parties on Friday requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to dissolve the Cabinet of Ministers and to form an Interim Government representing all political parties in Parliament. Addressing a special media briefing, former Minister Wimal Weerawansa said the current Government has proved that it has failed to win the trust and respect of the people of the country.
SLPP Parliamentarian Weerawansa urged the Head of State to form an Interim Government immediately after reaching an agreement with all political parties, and not to let the country fall into anarchy.
BIMSTEC
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday said that international and intra-regional cooperation should be enhanced to rebuild the economy that is collapsing due to the current global crisis and to enrich the people affected by poverty.
The President said that despite the challenges ahead, the future of BIMSTEC countries is clear and strong. Delivering the welcome address and Country Statement for the BIMSTEC Summit via video link from the Presidential Secretariat, the President said the economic consequences of the pandemic were especially severe on Sri Lanka and the restrictions imposed to curtail the spread of the virus in 2020 and 2021 seriously affected every sector of the economy.
He said that the loss of tourism and remittances from expatriate workers, alongside the cost of healthcare programs and provision of welfare for those whose livelihoods were affected by the pandemic have combined with rising global inflation and the country’s historic debt service obligations to create a challenging economic situation for Sri Lanka.
“However, I am confident that together with the remarkable strength and resilience of our people, tried and tested over time and the cooperation of our regional and international partners, Sri Lanka will overcome these difficulties and engineer a rapid economic recovery,” he said.
Many wise men
State Minister Duminda Dissanayake said there are many so-called wise men who are boasting that they alone could bring prosperity to the nation, but they do not disclose the strategies they would adopt in ushering this utopia. Speaking at a recent ceremony held at Rajangane, Dissanayake said there are some politicians who categorically tell the people that if they were elected into power, they would import petroleum products free for two years.
Are those fishing in troubled waters to gain power by hook or by crook real leaders?” he said.
The State Minister said there are politicians boasting that they did the best while they were in power adding that chasing away the present rulers was not the solution to save the country from further disaster.
He said, “Irrespective of political differences and rivalry, we must get together to salvage the country’s economy and promote foreign exchange earnings rather than criticizing each other at this crucial juncture.”
Dissanayake said, “People rejected Mahinda Rajapaksa and elected Maithripala Sirisena to the Presidency. Again, the people who ushered Mahinda Rajapaksa into power defeating the Yahapalana Government are now telling Mahinda Rajapaksa to go home. This system should be abolished and done away with to gain real political, economic and social emancipation for the country.”
“Will not retire immediately”
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has denied media speculation that he will step down from his position and make way for UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to be sworn in as the new Prime Minister.
The Premier had told the media that he will continue to serve as the Prime Minister till his term comes to an end adding that the SLPP is confident of winning the next Presidential and General Election as well.
He said despite issues in the country, the Government was working on resolving them as soon as possible and the people had not lost faith in the Government. He has said, “I will continue as the Prime Minister of the country till my term is over and we will win the next election too. I have some more time. I will not retire immediately.”
Earlier, rumours were rife that Prime Minister Rajapaksa was in talks with the UNP and the formation of a National Government was underway. However, the Premier has said that the speculation of a National Government is all lies. He said that he has nothing to do with Ranil or Sajith and it is all false.
“More powers”
TNA Leader R.Sampanthan said that his party will never accept a half-baked political solution offered by the Government for the rights of the Tamil people. Following the TNA’s discussion with the President, Sampanthan told the media that the TNA had requested the President to take steps to resolve the ethnic issue in the country by giving more powers to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
Sampanthan said that the waiting time of the Tamil leaders and the people of this country was sufficient for the rights of the Tamil people and for the protection of their heritage, adding that it was very important that the Government and the President act honestly at this time. He said that the TNA had discussed the matter with the President this time with the intention of finding a lasting solution to the problem, adding that the TNA was ready to hold further rounds of talks, if necessary.
National consensus
UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardene has hinted that there will be a national consensus soon where all the parties will get together to resolve the present crisis faced by Sri Lanka.
Abeywardene told a recent press conference that there is a possibility of former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe playing a major role in the event a national consensus is reached.
He said, “The need of the hour is to establish a national consensus forgetting party politics. It is also essential to hand over the nation to the best person who could pull the country through from the present economic crisis. The best person who could handle the economy is Ranil Wickremesinghe.”
Abeywardene said, “I think and feel that former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will become the custodian of the nation.” He was responding to a question raised by journalists as to whether Wickremesinghe will get a prominent post in the future.
He said, “What Sri Lanka needs is a political reform similar to that of Russia in 1999 where the then Russian President Boris Yeltsin appointed Vladimir Putin as the Prime Minister.”
22nd Amendment
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader and SLPP Parliamentarian Udaya Gammanpila said that he hopes to bring a 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill to Parliament in April. Addressing a PHU media briefing, he said, “Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa is leading the Government because he slid in through the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. Similarly, Arjuna Mahendran became the Central Bank Governor through a loophole in the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. We need to close those loopholes.”
Gammanpila said, “As a solution to this crisis”, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill will be introduced to Parliament in April. The proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution will ensure that no dual citizen can hold a position as a Member of Parliament or be the President of Sri Lanka. It will also ensure that a dual citizen will not be able to hold any important position in the State. From the Pradeshiya Sabha onwards, no public representative or judge in a court will be a dual citizen as a result of this Amendment.”
Public perception
UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said a public perception has been created in favour of former Prime Minister and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as he is the only leader who can rescue the country from the prevailing economic crisis.
He said that speculation on forming a National Government and appointing Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister were based on that public opinion. He told a gathering of professionals in Colombo, that he believes that there would be a significant change in Parliament after the Sinhala and Tamil New year.
He said, “We need to come together to resolve the prevailing crisis in the country. There has to be a national consensus, not a National Government. We need to put the country first at this moment.”