President Ranil Wickremesinghe was in Nuwara Eliya on the eve of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. He has been visiting Nuwara Eliya with First Lady Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe for a long time.
When the President stayed at the President’s House, Nuwara Eliya, he first looked into whether the children of the Child Development Centres were given New Year gift parcels under the program initiated by him.
On April 13 afternoon, the President called on Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka and Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva to find out if the children in all the Child Development Centres in the country had received the gifts as scheduled.
On the morning of April 14, when the President came to witness the New Year celebrations at Meepilimana Stadium, he first went to see the children’s bun-eating competition. The announcements of the event were made by a group of youth from the area. When they saw the President who had suddenly arrived to witness the New Year celebrations, they went towards the President to have a chat with him.
The first question asked by a female announcer was how he became so handsome. Following the answer by the President, the female announcer did not have the opportunity to ask any more questions because the crowd started laughing continuously for several minutes.
The President, who watched several New Year festivities including a pillow fight (Kotta Pora), got on the stage to award prizes to the winners of the cycle race. Then President Wickremesinghe who saw Nuwara Eliya District Parliamentarian Nimal Piyatissa promptly took him to the stage, to join the prize-awarding event.
A person named, Anura Dissanayake won first place in the cycle race. When Minister Harin Fernando said, “Sir, the first prize goes to Anura Dissanayake.” President Wickremesinghe replied, “At the New Year, we also gave a prize to Anura,” and the cycle race champion smiled.
When the President went to places where the New Year festivities were held, the people talked to the President and thanked him for giving them the economic freedom to celebrate the New Year.
“We could not celebrate the New Year properly for two years. But thanks to you, we celebrated it well this time,” the people said happily.
The principal of a nearby school, a bhikkhu, presented two problems to the President. “ Mr. President, you came to this area even when you were in the Opposition. You have come even today. This is a pleasure for us. This school does not have an assembly hall. There is no proper playground. Solve these two problems,” the bhikkhu pleaded. President Wickremesinghe said that he will build the assembly hall of the school with his intervention and handed over the responsibility of improving the facilities of the playground to Minister Harin Fernando.
The President told MP Nimal Piyatissa, who was nearby, “You should coordinate whether these activities are done properly. If there are any deficiencies, inform me in Colombo.”
The President and the entourage also joined a tea party at a nearby house and after finishing it, President Wickremesinghe left with MP Nimal Piyatissa in his car.
Pekoe trail
Since the President decided to walk on the mountain route called “Pekoe Trail” early morning on April 16, the security forces had got a vehicle for his journey. The President, who came to the road, left the vehicle aside and decided to walk. He continued walking like a young man with the finder of that mountain route.
It was also revealed there that the route is not included in the road map as it lies in the middle of tea estates. On the way the President also met villagers and they were surprised to hear that the President had come there.
When they came near the President, he himself went near them and started talking. The youth presented their issues and the elders presented the housing issue. The President, who said that he would find answers to all of them soon, also posed for selfies with them. Villagers also came with great devotion and they went a long way behind the President.
That evening the President heard two sad news stories. The first was about the death of former State Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma which came from Director General of Government Information Dinith Chinthaka Karunaratne. At the same time, he was also informed about the death of Founder of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne. The President instructed the Director General of Government Information to inform him where their remains are lying and as to when the funerals will be held.
He immediately provided information to the President and the President said that he would come to Colombo on Friday because of this. The second call came from UNP General Secretary Range Bandara. There, the President instructed him to do the best that the party can do for Thewarapperuma. At the same time, the President also instructed General Secretary Range Bandara to send a party senior to the hospital. General Secretary Range Bandara called Lakshman Wijemanna and instructed him to go to the hospital immediately. Wijemanna who was at Mount Lavinia at that time left for Nagoda Hospital to inquire about the arrangements.
The next morning General Secretary Range Bandara and Party Executive Director Shamal Senarath went to Nagoda Hospital after informing Thewarapperuma’s wife that they were coming. Shortly after they went, Thewarapperuma’s wife and son arrived, and the autopsy was conducted.
After the autopsy, when they went to the funeral parlour, a business friend of Thewarapperuma had come there for the funeral arrangements as per his last wish. Together with him, the General Secretary did all the things that should be done by the party.
Later, Range Bandara called the Senior Superintendent of Police of the area and requested to be given the honour of a police pilot car and two motorcycles on behalf of Thewarapperuma. After they left, many Government and Opposition politicians including UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena, National Organiser Sagala Ratnayaka paid their last respects to their colleague. President Wickremesinghe also paid his last respects to the party’s comrade on Friday.
On Thursday morning, the President met many former Pradeshiya Sabha and Urban Council members of the Nuwara Eliya district. The majority of them were Opposition MPs. The Nuwara Eliya Post Office was the main topic of the discussion and the Opposition MPs who heard the President’s answers to their questions started saying that this information did not come to them.
“The people opposed this because they did not know the true story. We will take your message to the people. Actually, now we understand that in order to develop the country, you need to rule this country for at least another 10 years,” MPs said.
In the meantime, President Wickremesinghe also joined a Zoom discussion with the Ministers. A similar discussion was also held on Thursday.
“Sir, people celebrated the New Year well because of your economic program. Everyone had money and they travelled. This situation was seen after three years,” Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said happily.
“There is chaos and quarrels in the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) too. I don’t know how long this will go on,” said Minister Manusha Nanayakkara.
“It seems that the Minister of Justice is now trying to join the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). But I don’t know if he sought permission from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) from which he contested the election. It is a question that needs to be asked from the SLPP General Secretary,” Prof. Ashu Marasingha said, making everyone laugh.
Iranian President’s visit
It was during this conversation that the story of the Iranian President’s visit to Sri Lanka for the inauguration of the Uma Oya project came up.
A question raised by the MPs was that several countries, including Israel, have expressed their opposition to the visit of the Iranian President.
“As far as we know, no one has protested. Neither India nor China have protested. The US or India did not say not to invite him,” Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said.
“The President of Iran is coming to launch the Uma Oya hydropower project built with their support. It was due to be opened in 2015. But the project has been delayed due to protests, so it will be opened at this time. We have a good foreign policy. It is a program that treats everyone equally without any bias. We also work with Israel. We also help children in the Gaza Strip. There was a good foreign policy during the time of Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and President J.R. Jayewardene. Today we have the same foreign policy,” the President said.
President Wickremesinghe congratulated the Captain of the Sri Lanka women’s cricket team Chamari Attapattu, who set several world records. At that time, Sudath Chandraseka coordinated with those who were in South Africa. The President who arrived in Colombo on Friday attended the swearing in of the Acting Chief Justice and then paid his last respects to the remains of Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne and Palitha Thewarapperuma.
Sajith in Hambantota
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stayed in the Hambantota district last week. He celebrated the Sinhala and Hindu New Year weekend with the students of Royal College, Pannegamuwa, Weerawila, Tissamaharama. Opposition Leader Premadasa donated a smart classroom to the school under the 155th phase of the ‘Sakwala’ program.
There the Opposition Leader said that before the country fell into such an abyss, money was in the hands of people during the Sinhala and Hindu New Year and the people celebrated this New Year in a bankrupt country. Since it is impossible to celebrate this New Year, the next Sinhala New Year should be celebrated in a country that brings prosperity to all.
Era of development
The next day, under the 156th phase of the ‘Sakwala’ program, a smart classroom was given to the Zahira National School, Hambantota. The Opposition Leader said, “The next New Year will be celebrated by negotiating with the IMF and starting the era of development that will build the economy of this country with a populist humanitarian agreement.”
This has already been discussed with the IMF. What the country needs is economic growth that brings welfare and prosperity to all, not a shrinking solution that shrinks the economy.’’
“Does the bankrupt country need incapable and leaders who boast or ‘working leaders’? The decision is in the hands of the people.” The Opposition Leader said this when he joined an occasion to provide a friendly classroom to Kirinda Muslim College in Hambantota under the 157th phase of the ‘Sakwala’ program.
“There were incapable leaders for a while. Currently, there are leaders who spend the country’s money and go globe trotting. There are also leaders who can’t work. They can’t add value to the country, but they criticise and boast with arrogance. The current leader has not brought a single cent to the country after traveling around the world. Today, there are leaders who spend the money received by their party and hold fake shows and bring people in,’’ the Opposition Leader said.
The initial negotiations between the Government and the international sovereign bond holders had ended without an agreement.
Sovereign Bonds
At a discussion at the Opposition Leader’s office regarding the sovereign bond restructuring process, MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said, “It is evident from the discussion held with the Government and the bond holders that Sri Lanka will be bound until 2040. The current Government hopes to reach an agreement to restructure the debt in the future. But the current Government is there for another six months.
If the Government comes to an agreement to restructure the debt up to 2040, it is advisable to seek the opinion of the Opposition as well. It is evident from the discussion held on behalf of the Government and the bondholders that they have agreed on the basic idea that debt restructuring should be linked to the country’s economic growth. But we don’t believe it should happen that way. There is no problem in linking the debt restructuring with the economic growth of the country. But the fact that it is 100 percent bound will have a negative effect on the Government and the country.”
Opposition Leader Premadasa said, “The bondholders have agreed to conditionally cut the interest rate of the bonds. But they have set conditions. Among the conditions presented by the bondholders is that good governance should be implemented and the anti-corruption mechanism should be implemented strictly.
“The Government has an opportunity to prove its transparency. It can implement an anti-corruption program, but if the Government’s aim is to maintain the corrupt political culture full of bribes that permit theft in a bankrupt country and steal national resources, the bondholders will not give relief.’’
Member of Parliament S.M. Marikkar said, “The current Government is a corrupt Government just like the Rajapaksa Government. That is why the Government does not agree to the anti-corruption conditions proposed by international bondholders. There is no need to sell the country’s state resources to find income. If the anti-corruption process is implemented properly, investors will have confidence in the country. If that happens, the country will get foreign direct investment. No foreign direct investment has been received for two years. Sri Lanka cannot develop without direct foreign investments.”
Meanwhile, a discussion regarding the upcoming program of the party was held at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo under the patronage of SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara. At the discussion, General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara asked, “Gayantha, what do you think about the economic debate?”
MP Gayantha Karunathilaka replied, “Definitely, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa can face the debate well. The Opposition Leader has more extensive knowledge than Anura Kumara Dissanayake.”
General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said, “This debate is moderated by Dr. Ranga Kalansooriya. I asked Dr. Kalansooriya to hold the debate between the economic committees of the SJB and the NPP and the debate between Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake simultaneously.”
MP Karunathilaka said, “The members of the NPP Economic Committee cannot even compete with Dr. Harsha de Silva, Eran Wickramaratne and Kabir Hashim who represent the Economic Committee of the SJB as well as the Opposition Leader. We will definitely win the debate.”
Dr. Harsha de Silva MP said, “The NPP says that they need to audit and restructure the debt. Debt restructuring cannot be done after the audit. That is why the NPP was asked to come to a debate. We can argue in the debate about how to restructure international debt. They seem to be avoiding the debate.”
MP S.M. Marikkar said, “Former JVP MP Sunil Hadunnetthi challenged Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to come for a debate with Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Before that, MP Nalin Bandara challenged the Economic Committee of the National People’s Power (NPP) to come for a debate with the Economic Committee of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).
“Therefore, let’s invite Anura Kumara Dissanayake to debate with their Economic Committee along with the Economic Committee of the SJB led by the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. The Economic Committee of the SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa can have any debate on any day. Anura Kumara is afraid of the debate.”
Former MP Mujibur Rahman said, “Mahinda’s tsunami file was not in Anura Kumara’s files. Anura Kumara hid Mahinda’s tsunami file. In 2005, when Mahinda Rajapaksa was nominated as the Presidential candidate, he was accused of misappropriation of tsunami funds. The JVP worked to bring Mahinda Rajapaksa to power knowing that there are allegations against him. The country has become bankrupt because of the wrong political decisions taken by the JVP.
“Only two Rajapaksas were in power when the JVP helped the Rajapaksas. It was only after the JVP helped the Rajapaksas and brought them to power that a Rajapaksa generation was created. We have never voted for the Rajapaksas and they also did not ask us to vote. But Anura Kumara has voted to win over the Rajapaksas. The JVP has contributed to creating corrupt state governance. They have contributed the most to destroying the country. JVP itself is now in the ‘Compass’. “
SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said, “Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in Parliament in those days that the JVP started the election campaign to help Mahinda Rajapaksa win at the 2005 Presidential Election.”
“No knowledge on market economy”
Former Provincial Council member Niroshan Padukka said, “The majority of people are saying that corruption and fraud should be eliminated in the country. After that, the majority talk about a new economic program. The JVP has no knowledge about the market economy. If they come to power, the country will fall into another abyss. The country will not be able to recover again.’’
National Organiser of the Samagi Youth Force Chamith Wijesundara said, “There are countries where parties with the vision of the JVP have gained power but those countries have failed by now. Venezuela, Cuba and Greece should be shown to the people as examples. People should be made aware of the damage done to those countries after the parties with a mindset like the JVP gained power in those countries. We need to call regional candidates and train them on how to take such matters to the people.’’
The discussion also focused on printing a brochure to inform the people about the policy of the SJB and a plan to deliver the brochure to every house, and it was also discussed to hold a workshop for the regional leaders of the SJB to inform the people. The SJB General Secretary appointed Prof. Atula Samarakoon, Gayantha Karunathilaka, Mujibur Rahman and S.M. Marikkar to prepare the brochure to educate the people.
National Organiser of the Samagi Youth Force Chamith Wijesundara, Lihini Fernando and Rehan Jayawickrama were appointed to draw up the future program to be carried out for the youth and gather them to join the party.
