Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said those who stage protests at Galle Face and countrywide areas are demanding for a system change and they also want the incumbent President to step down.
The SJB Secretary in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that the struggle at Galle face would continue until the President resigns. We also provide them the strength to create a new political culture to rebuild the country. Instead of abolishing the 20th Amendment and reintroducing the 19th Amendment, the SJB has also proposed the 21st plus Amendment which includes the abolition of the Executive Presidency.
Q: When the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) commands the majority in the Opposition, how do you view the appointment of UNP National List MP Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new Prime Minister?
A: I view that as a decision taken to safeguard Rajapaksas and not to safeguard the country.
Q: Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on Thursday informed the President that he is willing to accept the Prime Minister portfolio under four conditions. Under these circumstances, what led the President to appoint UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister?
A: We put forward four conditions to accept the premiership. At present, the entire country requests the President to step down. The President is held responsible for the collapse of the country’s economy and the livelihood of the people. On behalf of the country, we decided to give a certain timeframe for the President to step down. However, he has given premiership to Ranil Wickremesinghe to further safeguard his presidency. We continuously maintain our stance saying that Rajapaksas should go.
Q: The Maha Sangha says the Samagi Jana Balawegaya avoided the opportunity given to them to accept the premiership by putting up conditions. Would you like to respond?
A: I think the Maha Sangha should mostly point their fingers at Rajapaksas who destroyed the country and its economy. It is very unfair that they level this allegation against the Opposition Leader. Maha Nayaka theras also requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign. When he is not willing to respect the request of the Maha Nayaka theras, I think it is not fair to accuse the Opposition.
Q: However, the President has said that at several times, the Opposition leader turned down his request to accept the premiership so that he had to appoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister. Your comments?
A: Actually, the Opposition leader’s letter sent to the President was mainly based on the President’s special statement made on Wednesday.
The President in his speech said that the 19 th Amendment will be reintroduced and the Executive Presidency will be abolished. Therefore, the Opposition leader in his letter sent to the President said if he agrees to effect these changes, the SJB is ready to accept the premiership.
Q: Will the SJB accept portfolios of an Interim Government that is to be formed?
A: The SJB parliamentary group will meet and take a decision regarding that. My personal view is that we should not accept any portfolios under a Government led by this President.
Q: There is media speculations that a group of SJB MPs have decided to quit and extend their support to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Is there any truth in this?
A: I categorically deny that. I saw even the Prime Minister and UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara have said that a large number of SJB Parliamentarians are going to join hands with them. However, I would like to state with responsibility that no SJB MP will join hands with them. If the media has reported that SJB Parliamentarian Harin Fernando has decided to become independent in Parliament, he attended our parliamentary group meeting held on Thursday as well. We have given the opportunity to our MPs to express their views freely. Harin Fernando also expressed his candid views a couple of days ago. I don’t think he would politically commit suicide by joining hands with the UNP leadership.
Q: How do you view the riot incidents which took place on Monday following the attack on the peaceful protesters at Galle Face? The Opposition and certain sections blame the Police and the security forces for not taking remedial measures to prevent that incident. Would you like to comment?
A: The President and the Government should be held responsible for that.
They didn’t provide necessary instructions to prevent those incidents. Similarly, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) should also be held responsible for it.
We vehemently condemn the attack of those peaceful protesters at Galle Face. It was a very undemocratic move.
Even though a couple of days have lapsed since that incident, steps have not been taken to arrest even a single person who was involved in those riot incidents. I think that was a well-planned attack and it seems the culprits are not going to be brought to book.
Q: The houses and properties of a large number Government MPs had been destroyed due to riot incidents that took place on Monday and afterwards. Some say if this trend continues, the country would move towards anarchy. Your views?
A: We condemn those incidents. We never admit such violent activities. It is unnecessary to set fire to the houses of Parliamentarians. The Government should take action against those who resorted to those violent acts and prevent similar incidents in future. The main reason which led to such riot incidents was the attack on the peaceful protesters at Galle Face.
Q: At present the protesters at Galle Face and countrywide are demanding for a system change. They say just changing the figure heads will not provide any solutions to the burning issues in the country. Do you agree?
A: Definitely. The 20th Amendment has created a dictatorial leader. Those who stage protests at Galle face and elsewhere are demanding for a system change and they also want the incumbent President to step down.
However, the President has turned a deaf ear to that demand made by the people. Therefore, the struggle at Galle Face would continue until he resigns.
Instead of abolishing the 20th Amendment and reintroducing the 19 th Amendment, we have also proposed the 21 st plus Amendment which includes the abolition of the Executive Presidency.
Q: Do you believe the appointment of a new Prime Minister and a Government would provide solutions to the burning issues in the country?
A: We hope and wish it would be able to at least provide solutions to the basic issues faced by the people.