President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said there is nothing to hide about the conduct of the Government from the media or the people. The President said everyone has the right to criticise the Government, adding that as the President, he was willing to accept and consider all constructive and fair criticism.
He was speaking to heads and editors of leading media institutions on monday.
“My aim is to fulfill the wishes of the people who had many aspirations to see a prosperous country. If there are any shortcomings in this process, the public and media are free to point those out,” he said.
The President, who outlined some of the gains made during the past two years, said that the current economic problems and the foreign exchange crisis were precipitated by the Covid-19 pandemic. He said foreign reserves amounted to US$ 7 billion in 2019 thanks to the tourism industry, expatriate remittances and substantial export earnings.
With the onset of the Covid pandemic, global tourism came to a standstill, foreign remittances reduced drastically as many workers returned to Sri Lanka and export industries were also hampered. President Rajapaksa said this was the genesis of the forex crisis.
On a positive note, export earnings have picked up to reach record levels. The tourism industry is also picking up gradually. “These issues have a global dimension. These factors stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic were beyond our control but we are taking corrective measures where possible,” the President said.
Overlooked by critics
He said there was a silver lining in that the vaccination drive was largely successful, which has enabled the Government to keep the pandemic at bay to a large extent. “Unfortunately, this fact is often overlooked by critics,” he said. He called on those who are still sitting on the fence to get the booster shot to raise their immunity levels against the Coronavirus.
Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said the Government is ready for negotiations to increase its numbers in Parliament in case any of its coalition partners quit.
Rumours
He said, “Our doors are open. Anyone can leave. We are not going to stop anyone because we can take more than the required number of heads from the Opposition at any time. We are ready to face any desertion by allied MPs. There are many in the Opposition willing to join the Government. They are ready to come to our fold by a single call.”
Minister Fernando was responding to a query on rumours of a split within Government ranks, by a journalist during an inspection tour to review progress of the construct work of the Badagamuwa vehicle parking terminal and its health centre recently.
The Minister said, “We do not want to see them leave us. We will never forget the allied party MPs who assisted us to build this Government. Their leaving does not mean the Government will collapse. The Government is stronger than ever and has enough MPs anytime we need to get from the Opposition.
“Our strategy is not to make announcements of the numbers ready to cross the Well of the House to our side but to put into action an arranged plan to replenish the number of MPs to keep our present composition in toto.”
Cheap politics
After commissioning the newly restored 86.7 km Bibile-Chenkalady road, Minister Fernando said at Chenkalady on Tuesday, December 28, the Opposition plan to get people to hoot at Government politicians in their electorates had failed.
He said, “Their plan was to organise people to boo Ministers and MPs when we visit our electorates and villages. That did not work because they have no strength or organisational power to work out a campaign of such level. Today their plan went awry and was proven to be another flop. We have come to the village and provinces, but there is none to enact the Opposition’s plan.”
The Minister said that Opposition members’ wishful thinking that the electorate would reject Government political leaders was shattered because they were not capable of engineering such a plot successfully.
He said, “It is so weak and that was why people did not vote for them. They think that just because they promote such ideas on social media people would listen to them. Their conduct is so pathetic that they cannot even utter a lie convincingly.”
Minister Fernando said, “The people would not fall for the cheap politics of the Sajith Premadasa gang and the Anura Kuamra Dissanayake clique because they know that it was during the tenure of Governments under Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa these provinces recorded the highest development.
Will not abandon Govt
Democratic Left Front Leader Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that neither he nor Minister Wimal Weerawansa and Minister Udaya Gammanpila will abandon the Government or the President.
In a media release, Minister Nanayakkara reiterated that the Ministers, including himself, will not abandon President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and they plan on moving forward with him on this journey.
He said so when President Rajapaksa recently told the media that he will not remove anyone from the Government and if anyone bears an opinion different to his, they can resign from their positions.
Nanayakkara said, “When you are in the Cabinet, there is a factor called collective responsibility. Collective responsibility is a practice in England. We have a policy much older than that.” He said that they remain committed to reaching an agreement that is best for the nation and assured none of the trio plan to quit the Government.
Simmering dispute
State Minister Jayantha Samaraweera said that the country wouldn’t have been in such turmoil today if the top political leadership consulted constituents of the ruling coalition. He said that a simmering dispute over the Yugadanavi power plant deal that ended up in the apex court was one among many contentious and questionable issues.
Samaraweera said that the SLPP had conveniently turned a blind eye to concerns expressed by constituents not only in respect of Yugadanavi power plant, but a number of other issues as well. He said that the SLPP couldn’t act in an arrogant manner on the basis of superiority in numbers.
The Government lawmaker also elaborated as to how the Government had allowed importers to fleece those struggling to make ends meet by doing away with price controls. “What is the point in granting duty concessions to various importers unless the Government ensures the consumers benefit by them,” he asked.
State Minister Samaraweera admitted that they hadn’t been successful in convincing the SLPP to review its policies. He said that the NFF recently called a special media briefing to pressure the Government to re-impose price controls immediately or face the consequences, alleging that the Government ignored their request made on behalf of the people.
The bankrupt Opposition exploited the situation to the hilt, urging the Government to address the grievances of the public and rectify mistakes.
Cordial meeting
A cordial meeting between Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris and professionals was held in Batticaloa, on Tuesday, December 28. During the discussion, the current economic situation and its upliftment have been discussed in depth. Further, constitutional reforms, electoral reforms, educational reforms as well as the country’s socio-political foreign policy, and foreign relations were also taken into consideration.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa attended religious observances at the historic Kataragama Sacred area on December 31 in view of the New Year.
The two leaders also called on Chief Incumbent of the Kiriwehera Rajamaha Vihara, Ven. Kobawaka Damminda Thera. They also inquired into the health and well-being of Ven. Damminda Thera. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa, Uva Province Governor A.J.M. Muzammil, Southern Province Governor Willie Gamage and Basnayake Nilame of the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devala Dishan Gunasekara were also present.
No decision
UPFA General Secretary Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said despite speculation of a possible SLFP-JVP coalition, the main political alliance of the SLFP, the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), has not made any move to even arrange a meeting with the JVP.
Amaraweera said no decision had been taken to hold discussions with JVP members and dismissed the statements as mere rumours.
Alliance
SLFP General Secretary, Dayasiri Jayasekara recently said the party was eager to go into an alliance with the JVP because both parties were ‘clean’ and corrupt-free.
He said, “The SLFP has the potential to rebuild the future by partnering with the JVP. The SLFP is now a clean party, free of corruption and fraud. The Central Committee has explored the possibility of forming a wide alliance while laying the groundwork.”
However, in response to Jayasekara’s statements, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said the JVP does not take such statements seriously. Silva said Jayasekara’s statements highlight the SLPP-led Government’s failure on all fronts. He said, “It is a farce that the SLFP bills itself as a clean party. They cannot claim to be clean while serving in the Government.”
Sacrifices
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said the Government is expecting the public to starve in the future. He was speaking on the third day of Manushyathwaye Charikawa in Lunugamwehera on Tuesday, December 28.
Premadasa said the Government, which expects the public to cut down on food, will expect them to go hungry in the near future. He said, “From the day this Government came to power, notorious criminals, cronies and fraudsters are living happily and common people have lost their peace of mind. Some Government MPs are asking people to make more sacrifices, but the harried people cannot do so.”
Economic crisis
While criticising MPs who travelled overseas for holiday after Parliament was prorogued, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that instead of going abroad for the holiday season, they have to visit farms, even if the farmers chase or thump them. He said that in a backdrop where the country has fallen into the grip of an economic crisis, MPs should remain in the country and speak to the people who elected them to the Parliament.
Amaraweera said that this time should be used to talk with farmers who have been impoverished as a result of the fertiliser crisis, as well as the public, suffering from the economic catastrophe.
Suspicion
SLPP Parliamentarian Jagath Kumara told a recent news conference at the SLPP headquarters that the Government members will have to prepare to sit in the Opposition if it fails to create an environment conducive for people to live.
He said that there was suspicion growing on whether members of some organisations had joined the Government and taken over positions in state institutions to destroy the country.
He said, “We believed that we could salvage the country with the experience of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, together with their love for the country. I believe they are still working to achieve this target. However, there are questions whether those who joined through various civic organisations among others are working to destroy the country after assuming positions.
“The request by the people is for the President and Prime Minister to build a country where even the people at the grassroots could live a decent life. Otherwise, we will all have to prepare to sit in the Opposition,” he said.
Joining forces
JVP politburo Member and former MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that any politician who is willing to adhere to the principles and policies of the National People’s Power (NPP) is welcome to join them in the fight against the Government. He said that the JVP is planning to set up a people-friendly Government together with all parties who are willing to accept the principals, policies and conditions forwarded by the NPP. Previously, when the SLFP expressed its interest in a possible alliance between the two forces, JVP politicos including Anura Dissanayake, Tilvin Silva and Vijitha Herath said that they are not ready to align with any major political party.
Contrary to these claims, Dr. Jayatissa said that, if interested, any politician can join the NPP if they are willing to adhere to the NPP’s conditions. Jayatissa thanked the SLFP General Secretary for expressing interest in joining forces with the JVP. He said “A Government led by the NPP will definitely bring corrupt politicians to book. So, we need to see if these politicians or parties who are willing to join us agree to our terms and conditions.”
He said that a number of Ministers who are disappointed and opposed to the level of corruption taking place within the Government are holding discussions with the NPP led by the JVP about joining forces. Jayatissa also requested the youth not to be disheartened and leave the country as there is still hope for a better country.
Challenges
UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena said that if the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not being approached, the Government should reveal the alternative to solving the economic challenges the country is facing at present.
He said the Government waiting without looking for solutions for the present situation in the country, would result in the people and the country being pushed towards great devastation. Abeywardena made these remarks when he met a group of party activists in the Galle District.
He said subsequent to the Corona pandemic, many countries took steps to strengthen their economies. Similarly, they set up new laws and acted to overcome challenges. However, unfortunately, the Government of our country did not follow any such measures.
He said, “Due to the lack of foreign exchange reserves, the crisis in the country is increasing daily. Cost of living has gone up so much that people are unable to bear it. The Government does not have a program to control the increase in prices of essential food commodities and other goods and to provide relief to the people.” Abeywardena said the country is getting pushed into the 1970-1977 era again, when there was a severe shortage of goods.