President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that the groups that ruled the country previously are reuniting to mislead the people and drag the country into an abyss.
He said despite the challenges, he is committed to increasing the income of the farming community by 100 percent and to protect the country and the people as pledged in the National Policy Framework “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour”.
The President was speaking at the first public rally organised by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) at Salgadu Stadium, Anuradhapura on Wednesday, February 9.
He said that local and foreign forces were working together to prevent the journey of the Government as they had done to topple the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government. The policies of the Government are aimed at the well-being of the future generations.
The President said that he would continue to move forward despite obstacles. The President said those who take to the streets to launch protests against the Government should think about the people and not the Government. Public officials should make a commitment to serve the country and the people. The President also commented on the need to allow the implementation of Government policies, without placing the country under lockdowns, to protect the re-emerging economy.
The President, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and SLPP National Organiser Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa were received by the SLPP Anuradhapura District Leader Minister S.M. Chandrasena and other Cabinet and State Ministers.
At the public rally, Premier Rajapaksa said the Government is confident of facing any challenge and overcoming those challenges for the betterment of the people. The Prime Minister said that the Government is ready to face the challenges of the Opposition, which has been trying to sabotage the Government since it came to power. He pointed out that the Opposition was trying to disrupt the Government. The main aim of the Opposition is to disrupt the Government’s forward march for the next three years.
The Prime Minister asked the people to fight against those conspiracies to steer the country in the right direction. The Prime Minister said that the Opposition had been able to build anti-government sentiments during the past two years of the global Covid-19 epidemic due to the Government’s relentless efforts to protect the people from the onslaught of the epidemic.
The Premier recalled the statement by treacherous forces that the country would go into a self-lockdown with the support of the Opposition if the country was not closed down due to the urgent need to close down the country. He also said that the country would be left in a state of disarray if the Opposition, which had been harassing farmers, teachers and public servants for two years and taking them to the streets and allowing them to continue to do so, continued their sabotage tactics.
Govt parliamentary group meeting
The Government parliamentary group meeting was held at Temple Trees on Monday, February 7 under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
During the meeting the energy and fuel issues had been discussed at length and Government backbenchers had first raised their voice in this regard. Government backbenchers had alleged that the Power Minister and Energy Minister who are on two sides and are fighting with each other adding that they should sort out their personal issues such as preferential votes. The backbenchers had continuously alleged that as a result, they have not been able to face the public. They said this is a Government formed amid many difficulties.
The President outlined the economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. The President had said that the funds in the Treasury had declined due to the Covid-19 crisis and that is why we have to face the dollar issue. He said we had to bring back nearly 100,000 Sri Lankans who worked in foreign countries during the pandemic. The remittances we received from them stopped completely.
When revenue stops and expenditure goes up, every Government has to face this situation. President Rajapaksa told Government lawmakers “Whatever the issues, dividing into camps and fighting with each other is not the solution. I also spoke to State Minister Sanath Nishantha. If there is any issue, first they should speak to me before they speak to the media. Don’t go before the media and fight with each other,” the President told Government members.
OICs
Another issue raised at the Government parliamentary group meeting was that the Ministers are not in a position to select a suitable OIC to the Police stations in their respective electorates as they wished.
This was first raised by Water Supply Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara adding that he was not able to select an OIC to his electorate based on his choice. Transport Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi also said that she couldn’t transfer any of the OICs in the district.
Responding to the query raised by Government lawmakers, Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera said according to the President’s policy, no interference can be made into the functions of the Police. Therefore, the OICs cannot be transferred as some of the Ministers wish. He said there is a program to do that and transfers of OICs are made after taking into consideration so many factors. Then some Government backbenchers had shouted saying that only “Rs. 300,000 and Rs. 500,000 should be given to get a transfer by an OIC and HQI and this is done by some of the officers in the Ministry.”
At that point, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa had also joined the conversation. He said there is nothing wrong in appointing an OIC loyal to the Minister for his electorate and this happens whatever Government comes to power.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa also said that there is no point if an OIC we want cannot be appointed.
Minister Basil Rajapaksa said, “An SLPP electoral organiser has a responsibility and a right to select a suitable OIC for his electorate. As I said earlier, this happens as a tradition under each and every Government.” Minister Rajapaksa had told Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara in lighter vein “Come to our side. Then I will give you an electoral organiser post.”
SLFP proposals
Observing the political instability that arises amid various crisis situations faced by the country, Government coalition partner, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has prepared a set of proposals to be presented to the Government.
The proposals have been approved at the All Ceylon Central Committee meeting of the SLFP held under the chairmanship of Party Leader former President Maithripala Sirisena at the Western Province Aesthetic Resort Auditorium, Colombo recently. The resolution covers 15 issues, including the economic crisis, green farming and governance. Speaking to the media, Party Leader former President Sirisena said the SLFP is discussing the proposals with a number of other political parties with the objective of forming an alliance.
He said that the party hopes to contest future elections through this alliance. Responding to a question posed by journalists, SLFP General Secretary State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said that no decision has been taken to leave the Government so far.
“Great disaster”
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that if former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Maithripala Sirisena were in power while the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak, the country would have faced a great disaster.
He said that the people would be oppressed in every possible way when Ranil Wickremesinghe and Maithripala Sirisena were having their usual quarrels. As a result, people would have dropped dead on the roads. Speaking at a recent meeting of the Nawalapitiya Women’s Council, Minister Aluthgamage said that the most unsuccessful politician in his political history was the Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa.
He said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had provided 100,000 jobs to youth from villages as promised during the Presidential Election, adding that he had also provided employment to 60,000 graduates.
The Minister said that JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was given the post of Opposition Whip in Parliament as a result of deals with Ranil Wickremesinghe and Malik Samarawickrema. He also said that the group which had a majority of 58 seats in Parliament was not given the post of Leader of the Opposition.
Country will not go bankrupt
Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said that the “so-called economic experts in the SJB” had predicted that the country’s economy would go bankrupt but the Opposition’s wish was not realised. The Minister also assured that the country will not go bankrupt even though it is going through a difficult time.
Minister Fernando said so in reply to Chief Opposition Whip MP Lakshman Kiriella who alleged that the Finance Minister is not managing the country’s economic crisis properly. Minister Fernando in reply said that the Finance Minister is successfully handling the situation and that he would be able to revitalise the country’s economy despite the challenges.
Minister Fernando also requested the Opposition to be far-sighted in politics. Minister Fernando also told Parliament on Tuesday, February 8 that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa is in a conflict with MP Patali Champika Ranawaka to secure his post in the House.
Minister Fernando said this when the Opposition Leader criticised the Finance Minister’s absence in the Chamber and demanded the Government answer the questions he raised. He said the Government and the Finance Minister take it as a responsibility to answer all the questions raised by the Opposition
Elections
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya expressed concern over not conducting elections at the correct time and stated that the postponement of elections reflects the Government’s inability of facing the people mainly due to the non-fulfilling of pledges they promised.
At a public meeting at the New Town Hall, Colombo, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that the postponement of the Provincial Council Election also reflects that the Government cannot face the people when the prices of essential commodity items have rapidly gone up and the people are facing immense economic hardships due to this.
He said if the Government has duly performed its duties for the economic development in the country then the Government should not fear to hold any election.
Premadasa said, “A large number of people voted for the Government at the last Presidential Election with the sole objective of creating an economically developed country.”
He said the Government should not get involved with the Rs. 3,000 million at the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) for various other projects. The Opposition Leader said using EPF funds for other purposes means the Government indirectly tries to rob the poor people’s money that are in their EPF accounts.
Opposition party leaders meet
A meeting at which Opposition Party Leaders participated was held at a hotel in Colombo recently, to discuss strategies to address the economic crisis. The meeting initiated by TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran, was attended by a group led by representatives of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, MPs Rauff Hakeem, Rishad Bathiudeen, Mano Ganesan, Kabeer Hashim, Dr. Harsha de Silva and Eran Wickremaratne joined in the discussions with Dr. Harini Amarasuriya representing the Janatha Vimuthi Peramuna via Zoom technology.
Although security officers had been sent ahead, informing the organisers that former President Maithripala Sirisena would be arriving, he did not show up and it is reported that he is due to join in a similar upcoming meeting. However, information regarding this discussion was not revealed to the media and the facts that were subject to discussion were not reported either. It is known that Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa had not spoken to each other.
“Only seven will be left”
UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said only seven members of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) will be left and all others will join the UNP. He said that less than two years after the formation of the SJB, questions have been raised regarding the candidate who will be contesting the Presidential Election and at present seven members of the group are dreaming of becoming the Presidential Candidate.
He was speaking at a function held at the E.L.Senanayake Children’s Library auditorium in Kandy following the opening of the renovated UNP Kandy District Office as the Central Provincial Office.
The UNP General Secretary said that the SJB kept saying that after the last General Election, Sirikotha would be captured and the green colour and the elephant would be claimed by them and grabbed the votes and that now it known who the UNP members who voted for them are. He said if solutions are to be found for all of these problems everyone should join together and implement a national program.
He said that UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe keeps making this point continuously, based on his long political experience and that those who are dreaming of becoming President and sewing themselves suits do not possess this vision.
SJB Group meets UNP chairman
A group of SJB activists had met UNP chairman Vajira Abeywardana a couple of days ago. During the meeting, the political situation and future plans had been discussed at length. Some of the SJB Parliamentarians and electoral organisers had also joined the discussion.
Wedding
The wedding of the daughter of a prominent UNP activist was held in a five star hotel in Colombo recently. UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena and SJB Parliamentarian Gayantha Karunathilleke who met at the wedding had also a long chat about the present political situation.