The anti-Government protest march and rally organised by several Opposition parties, trade unions, civil organisations and a group of activists of the Galle Face ‘Aragalaya’ movement in Colombo on Wednesday turned into a hot topic among people and the media.
Although Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa made an open invitation to all Opposition parties to join the protest, several opposition parties including the JVP, Freedom People’s Congress led by MPs Dullas Alahapperuma and Prof. G.L. Peiris and Uttara Lanka Sabhagaya led by MPs Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammapila didn’t participate.
However, the SJB, SLFP, Frontline Socialist Party and SLPP Parliamentarian Chandima Weerakkody and SJB MP Patali Champika Ranawaka had also joined the protest. A notable feature was that the Ceylon Teachers’ Union and several other trade unions also extended their support to the protest despite the decision taken by the JVP to boycott it.
Hooted
The protest march commenced at 3.00 p.m. on Wednesday near Elphinstone Theatre, Maradana and attempted to reach the Colombo Fort railway station. The Police informed the organisers of the protest that the rally and the protest march would not be allowed to be staged in front of Fort Railway Station or in its vicinity.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa who participated at the protest campaign was hooted by the protesters when he attempted to address the gathering on a makeshift stage on a vehicle. However, Premadasa left the venue after the protesters jeered him near the floating market premises, where the Police had placed barricades to prevent protesters from proceeding forward. Protesters also hooted at him when he tried to give a statement to the media at the venue.
The Opposition Leader was among the politicians who participated in the protest march on the theme ‘Let’s stand up against repression and economic pressure.’ From the beginning of the protest, there was a conflict of opinion among the participating political parties, trade unions and mass organisations, and an attempt to move ahead with the banner of the organisations they represent, but at the same time, a tense situation could be observed between them.
‘Cannot be condoned’
UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara on Wednesday said booing at the country’s Opposition Leader during a public protest cannot be condoned. Range Bandara said that no UNP member led by its Leader, President Ranil Wickremesinghe would approve such an act.
He said that the UNP with a formidable background will never resort to such low acts. UNP General Secretary in a statement said that he felt sorry when he saw the Opposition Leader leaving amid the booing during the protest held in Colombo.
He said that it should not be forgotten that the Opposition Leader is the fourth citizen of the country and added that such a position being undermined is a death blow to democracy. He said it is the responsibility of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to secure the dignity of the position for a future leader to hold it with dignity.
Unethical
SLPP Parliamentarian Mahindananda Aluthgamage said it is unethical for political parties and politicians attempting to achieve their narrow political agendas while the country’s economy is coming back to normal from the crisis. Commenting on the anti-government protest organised by Opposition parties and the trade unions in Colombo on Wednesday, he said this is the time when the foreign tourists have started to visit Sri Lanka.
Protests and campaigns of this nature affect tourism. He said the prices of fuel, gas, rice and other essential items have been reduced within the past four months after the incumbent President took over office.
Aluthgamage said, “The President is leading the country on the correct track. Therefore, we are able to manage the economy and provide solutions to the difficulties faced by the public. It is unethical for individuals to come to power through such means.”
‘Opportunistic manoeuvres’
Co-Convener of the Trade Union Coordination Centre and President of the Inter Company Employees’ Union Wasantha Samarasinghe on Wednesday said that they are not involved in opportunistic manoeuvres. He said that his party, JVP will be on stage with those who can be on platforms.
Commenting on the protest march organised by the Opposition and several political parties in Colombo, Samarasinghe said the Opposition Leader left Parliament when the Petroleum Corporation Act was taken up in Parliament for the privatisation of the Petroleum Corporation. He said that the protest march organised by these politicians was aimed at deterring the struggle launched by the JVP-led organisation against the oppression of the Government.
Sabotage
However, claiming that the JVP and its Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, were politically tamed during the 2015-2019 period by then Prime Minister and current President Ranil Wickremesinghe and continue to be so, the main Opposition, SJB alleged that the JVP had planted individuals to sabotage Wednesday’s anti-Government protest in Colombo.
Commenting on the JVP’s non-participation in the protest, SJB Ratnapura District Parliamentarian Hesha Withanage said, “First of all, we need to question why the JVP did not participate in that protest. When the UNP and the SLPP continue to loot this country, there is no reason to stop the JVP from being involved in this.
They showed a different colour and harmony by joining the Rajapaksas and Wickremesinghe on Wednesday. MP Withanage said, “The JVP and its leader Dissanayake were tamed by Wickremesinghe from 2015 to 2019 and they are still being tamed by him today. Otherwise, the JVP would not have avoided that protest, which was held against the arrests of university students and the Government’s suppression.”
SLFP CC meets
The Central Committee meeting of the SLFP, chaired by the SLFP Chairman, former President Maithripala Sirisena, was held at the party headquarters on Sunday. It was the first meeting following the removal of several members of the party, who got ministerial positions in the Government.
SLFP National Organiser Duminda Dissanayake had also participated in the meeting. He was not called for any constituencies or district organiser meetings which were held recently. Following the Central Committee meeting, former President and SLFP Chairman Maithripala Sirisena told the media the SLFP has no reason to try and win over those who had left the party to take ministerial portfolios.
The SLFPers who hold ministerial portfolios had not been invited to the meeting. However, the SLFP National Organiser, Duminda Dissanayake who was not invited to the previous meeting, had been asked to join the meeting.
Former President Sirisena said that the SLFP was attracting a better class of politicians and that people of the country are tired of palace intrigues and crossovers.
Commenting on future elections, he said that a number of parties are exploring the possibility of setting up a common front. He said, “However, we can also contest alone, and I think we have the capacity to do so.”
SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara also spoke to the media and the journalists raised questions regarding the invitation of party members to the Central Committee meeting.
Jayasekara said that the party’s restructuring activities are due to be completed next month. SLFP National organiser Duminda Dissanayake said that a large number of SLPP Parliamentarians wish to join the SLFP. “The SLPP was formed with our MPs,” he said.
Sixth anniversary
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the youngest political party in the country, marked its sixth anniversary on Wednesday. The Party was formed under the leadership of the fifth Executive President of the country Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 2, 2016.
The SLPP secured its first election victory at the Local Government polls in 2018. Thereafter, the Party won the Presidential Election in 2019 and the Parliamentary election in 2020 with a two-thirds majority. Currently, the party is carrying out its re-organising program covering the whole country. The anniversary celebration of the SLPP was held giving priority to the religious activities.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and a large number of SLPP Parliamentarians were present at the all-night Pirith chanting ceremony at the SLPP headquarters at Nelum Mawatha.
Ready to move forward
SLPP Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa said that the party is ready to move forward despite several challenges that they have faced in the past. He said, “As a party, we don’t believe that violence of any sort can establish political power. We hope to strengthen and modernise the party, moving forward with the blessings of SLPP Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, founder Basil Rajapaksa and all those who supported us through victory and defeat.
MP Rajapksa said that the SLPP is a down-to-earth party that has faced imprisonment of members and ridicule in the past when its members were warned against forming a party of their own, and yet has preserved, winning the majority of elections in the past six years.
SLPP Parliamentarian Rohitha Abeygunawardena also addressed the media assuring that the SLPP will be strengthened at all levels in the future. He said, “Our goal at the end of these six years before stepping onto the next stage is to strengthen all levels of the party, starting from Grama Niladhari level up to the national level.”
Abeygunawardena said the party is ready to democratically face future provincial, parliamentary and Presidential elections with the support of its other constituent parties.
Collective effort
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said since the Government has applied the best possible effort to the economy, it is expected that the country’s most difficult period will ease within the next few months.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the 77th anniversary meeting of the All Ceylon Harbour and Dock Workers Union in Colombo on Tuesday.
Premier Gunawardena said, “The battles that started in 1946 led to a unique revolution. With everyone’s support, everything started to change due to the action taken by other fraternal trade unions. This kind of history is not being written for trade unions today. It is not properly established. These rights were won through difficult periods. The eight-hour working day, overtime allowances, pensions, health insurance, facilities at the workplaces were won through battles.”
The Prime Minister said in 1958, the port was nationalised with the intervention of Philip Gunawardena and as a port, the construction of the first advanced port in our country began. “Lately, the Harbour and Dock Union has been able to bring our port to a leading position in the world with the amalgamation of a new workers union. They were able to do it because of the collective effort of the people who worked at the port,” he said.
“Only option”
UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said the people express their objection to those who seek narrow political advantages through the crisis in the country.
He told the media after relaunching the digitised media unit at the UNP headquarters, Sirikotha on Thursday, that people rely on President Ranil Wickremesinghe to rebuild and strengthen the economy.
He said, “The UNP is the only option to build the country’s economy. We believe that the party will have an opportunity to have new voters through this endeavour.”
UNP Deputy Leader Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said, “No political party will be able to form a Government in the future without the support of other parties. Only political alliances would form Governments in the future.” Therefore, the UNP should play the role of the major political party of that political alliance formed in the future, he stressed.
Taxes
JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said there is no end to the Government burdening the people with taxes. He said taxes starting from 6 percent and up to 36 percent have been levied on those who earn over Rs. 100,000 per month. he said.
“Taxing more than one-third of their income is not a small thing. Because of this, the top officials of the banking system are preparing to retire. Those with the highest knowledge and creative ability who are doing other jobs are also leaving the country. These rulers brought down the economy; Production has fallen and so has the country. While on the one hand taxes were being imposed on the people, on the other hand, inflation has been rising. These rulers have no plan to rebuild the country,” he said.
Silva said the JVP-led NPP has a viable plan to revive the economy and develop the country.
SLPP pressure
Former President Maithripala Sirisena has commended President Ranil Wickremesinghe for the efforts made thus far in stabilising crisis-hit Sri Lanka. Former President Sirisena told reporters recently that President Wickremesinghe has lifted the country out of the severe crisis it had been facing, to some extent.
He said, however, the President will face some form of pressure from the SLPP which could be an issue. Responding to questions on the SLPP attempting to revive the party, former President Sirisena jokingly questioned how they expect to revive under the current circumstances. Commenting on SLPP bigwig Mahinda Rajapaksa being instrumental in the party’s revival, the former President said, “Anyone can climb on to political stages, even a beggar can do this.”
“Time to rise”
Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said the time has come for those who love the country to rise for the sake of the country.
He was speaking at a ceremony to mark the International Habitat Day in Negombo on Thursday.
The Archbishop said that the proposed new Constitution, for which a committee was also appointed to gather public opinion on a previous occasion, would not provide solutions to the grievances of the public. Instead, it would only increase the powers of the country’s Presidency and would reduce human rights.
He said that there is another clause in that draft Constitution which says that the civil rights of the people who go to the international organisations such as the UN against the Government or any governmental organisation could be removed for not more than 20 years. “I cannot get that clause off my mind,” he added.
“Can we protect democracy and human rights through such a Constitution or develop this country?” he questioned. He also said that the people’s struggle which has already been launched is not a campaign for political parties to gather votes. Time has come for us to rise and develop this country, he said.