Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in a televised address to the nation on Monday, April 11, said that he still has the courage and determination to fac
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in a televised address to the nation on Monday, April 11, said that he still has the courage and determination to face any challenge at present, just as he did before, during the period of terrorism. The Premier called on the youth who protest with the National Flag in hand to remember that it was his Government that ensured that the National Flag can be raised anywhere in the country.
The Premier called on the youth to refrain from insulting and harassing the personnel of the Police and the tri-forces who are performing their duty to the nation.
He said, “You must remember that the fallen heroes made great sacrifices to protect you from the Covid-19 pandemic.” He said that it was because of the sacrifices made by the fallen heroes that the youth today can freely protest and travel. He said that every second the people protest on the streets costs the country an important foreign exchange inflow.
“Before we seek great reforms, it is our responsibility to save the country from its present state,” he said, adding that he had invited all those with the courage and determination to be involved in the process, and urged patience from the Sri Lankan people.
Speaking on the political front, the Prime Minister said that the Government invited all political parties in Parliament to join forces to build the country. He said, “However, they did not. Rather than thinking of the party, come forward to strengthen the economy.”
“It is our responsibility to uphold the sovereignty of the people to take a decision that will not undermine the democratic governance structure of this country. We are working only for that purpose. In politics we are accustomed to giving up as well as losing,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that they are hearing the slogan demanding the people to reject all 225 Members of Parliament. He said, “If it means rejecting this democratic system, then its danger must be understood by looking at history. We witnessed the tragedy of the bombing of Parliament and attempts to destroy Parliament.”
Premier Rajapaksa said that thousands of youth died on roadsides as Parliamentary democracy was rejected during the 1988-89 era. He said, “The country lost over 60,000 youth. My dear sons and daughters, your elders know how we strived to save the lives of many youths.”
The Premier also blamed the former Government for suspending the national programs that were initiated when he was re-elected to power in 2010. He also admitted that he is aware of the difficulties faced by the people in the wake of the skyrocketing cost of living, and having to wait in queues for fuel, gas, and other necessities.
Interim Govt
As reported by the media, the meeting between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former President Maithripala Srisena led the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to discuss the political and economic crisis affecting the country had ended without any conclusion on Sunday.
He told the media at the party office before the meeting, Sirisena said, “The main objective of the meeting was to request the President to form an interim administration under an all-party Cabinet with the least number of portfolios.”
However, the two sides did not reach any agreement on the formation of an interim government and agreed to have another round of discussions after the New Year holidays. The SLFP group led by former President Sirisena called on the President for the second time and the meeting had centered on the points contemplated in the letter sent to the President by the SLFP, the independent group of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the 11-party alliance.
However, President Rajapaksa had told SLFP that he would agree to implement only the points acceptable in terms of the Constitution and ruled out the possibility of setting up a National Executive Council since there were no constitutional provisions for it.
Call for removal of PM
Earlier, amid the ongoing economic crisis in the country, eleven coalition allies of the Government and the independent group of SLPP Parliamentarians led by Anura Priyadarshana Yapa wrote to the President requesting the removal of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the appointment of a new Cabinet under a new Prime Minister.
The letter carried the signatures of SLFP Leader former President Maithripala Sirisena and SLPP MPs Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe on behalf of the 41 MPs who left the Government and sat in Parliament as an independent group.
The MPs quit the Government on April 5 reducing the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to a minority government.
Galle Face protest
The mass protest against the Government at the Galle Face Green continued while participants marked the dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year at the venue on Thursday, April 14. A large number of people had also gathered for the protest on the day of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
The protest commenced on April 9 with the participation of a large number of people including youth from across the island. The protesters, who set up tents near the Presidential Secretariat, are engaging in demonstrations day and night. Braving the rains while holding placards, they have since been protesting in front of the Presidential Secretariat, urging the President to step down amid the economic crisis and political turmoil in the country.
PM ready for talks
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday said he is ready to talk with those who have been protesting at the Galle Face seafront near the Presidential Secretariat. The Premier said, “I am willing and prepared to meet the citizens engaged in the protest at Galle Face to hear their thoughts and complaints. Understanding that this is a tough time for all of us, I invite them to meet and discuss possible and plausible courses of action for the sake of Sri Lanka,” the PM tweeted.
Protest against Shantha Bandara
A group of people staged a protest in front of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) headquarters at Darley Road, Colombo on Tuesday, April 12 against SLFP MP Shantha Bandara who was sworn in as the State Minister of Agriculture on Monday, April 11. The group protested in front of the party headquarters, displaying placards reading ‘Do not dilute the people’s struggle’, ‘Do not give oxygen to Rajapaksas’ and ‘Tie the stray dogs, Maithripala’.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena has decided to remove Kurunegala District Parliamentarian Shantha Bandara who was sworn in as the State Minister of Agriculture from all the posts held by him in the party. At that time a heated situation arose between a group of SLFP Colombo District representatives and the protestors and the members of the SLFP said that they too were opposed to Shantha Bandara.
SLFP Propaganda Secretary MP Shantha Bandara, who left the Government along with his party and became independent a few days ago, has made a U-turn and accepted a State Minister portfolio from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
State Minister of Agriculture, Shantha Bandara said he accepted the post taking into consideration the situation in the country. He told a press conference that he had accepted the post of State Minister as the formation of the interim Government proposed by the 11 constituent parties of the Government has failed.
He said that he did not take over a ministry due to greed for a ministerial post and added that the people will agree with him in the future that his decision was right. He also said that he will not allow corruption and fraud to flourish in his ministry.
Premadasa meets Sirisena
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa met SLFP Leader former President Maithripala Sirisena at his official residence on Sunday, April 10. Representatives of the parties that left the Government had also held a discussion with the SLFP chaired by former President Maithripala Sirisena.
The 41 SLPP Parliamentarians who left the Government are also holding discussions with the President. As told by former President Sirisena to the media, the SLFP is of the stance that to resolve this issue, an interim governing council with a new Prime Minister should be appointed.
Through this council, the former President said that he hopes to calm down the country and take immediate action to address the oil crisis, gas, food, medicine and electricity issues. He said that the 20 th Amendment should be repealed and the 19th Amendment should be passed with amendments, which will ensure International support towards the Government.
NCM
The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) signed a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against the Government and an impeachment motion against the President on Tuesday, April 12. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa with his group of Parliamentarians signed them at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition.
The Opposition Leader said that the SJB stands with the people fighting on the streets against the Government and will work for all possible democratic victories in Parliament to realise it. Premadasa said that in addition to the No-Confidence Motion and the impeachment, they will continue a fight for the reversal of the 20th Amendment and re-enactment of the 19th Amendment and for all democratic victories by constitutional means.
The JVP said the country needs an Opposition Leader who fulfills the real needs of the people, not the position of Opposition Leader in Parliament. At a media briefing, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said the people have an understanding and assessment of the role of the Opposition Leader.
He said, “The people need an Opposition Leader who fulfills the real needs of the people.” Herath also ruled out the possibility of the JVP joining an Interim Government. He said, “We are ready to rebuild the country by creating our own government with the blessings of the people.”
National Freedom Front Leader and former Minister Wimal Weerawansa said that if Sri Lanka wants some form of stability, the Prime Minister and the Government must resign paving the way for a new administration. He said, “They are completely wrong if they assume that they can overcome the economic crisis by forming a majority of 113 MPs by any means.”
Appointment slammed
At a media briefing organised by the ‘Taking the Nation on the Correct Path’ movement in Colombo on Wednesday, April 13, Weerawansa said Basil Rajapaksa is still attempting to take control of the administration and also slammed the appointment of a new State Minister Shantha Bandara at a time when the country is facing a crisis.
“No dealings with Govt”
Former President Maithripala has said that the SLFP did not want to have any dealings with the Rajapaksas, and recollected that he was the first person to have broken ties with them.
The former President told the SLFP’s Colombo district members, “We will not have any dealings with this Government. We will not send them any more letters or have anything to do with them. All our meetings and discussions with the Government are over.” He said the SLFP had made several proposals to the Government to help those who are badly affected economically, but they have been ignored. He said, “We are with those carrying placards for the Rajapaksas to go home.” Former President Sirisena further said that SLFP MP Shantha Bandara who took a State Ministerial portfolio has committed political suicide adding that joining an unpopular Government such as the present one is the end of his political career.
“Act in democratic manner”
The United National Party (UNP) has urged those protesting against the Government to act in a democratic manner to win their demands.
UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena said, “If anyone goes further than that and goes against democracy, the country will be in a worse position.” Abeywardena said everyone has to work in accordance with the Constitution. He said, “If we work outside it, we may not get any help from the world community.” Abeywardena went on to say if the Government does not act in accordance with the Constitution they too will not be able to seek international help to overcome the crisis.
JVP to support protests
JVP Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka has said that the JVP will continue to support and participate in the ongoing wave of people’s protests and agitations against the Government. He has also called on the public to hold anti–government marches incessantly.
At a JVP-organised discussion, Dissanayaka said he had held the discussion to awaken the public over the country’s situation and to brief them on the action to be taken to depose the President and the Government from power. He stressed during the discussion that the agitations against the Government should not be stopped. Instead they must be intensified.
Dissanayaka said that the present crisis has come to the fore as result of numerous reasons going back a long time, adding that the ruler is expected to bear responsibility and resolve the crisis.
According to Dissanayaka, the ruler has displayed neither sensitivity nor heart to resolve it. He said, “The previous Governments also contributed to the current crisis. The rulers throughout have given vent to its evolution by fostering nepotism.”
Dissanayaka said, “The economic crisis that has emerged now has a political bearing and there are four primary chants of the hundreds of thousands of people protesting today. First, the President must resign; second, the Government must resign; third, solutions to people’s day-to-day problems must be found; and fourth, punishment must be meted out to those who have plundered the people’s money and property.
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