“During the past 50-60 years, people of this country saw Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cronies as antagonists fighting against each other with drawn swords. They separated into green and blue sides and fought with cardboard swords. But, the people in villages and elsewhere actually divided and fought against each other. Did not Range Bandara and his clique in Anamaduwa, MPs who died, have shootout on streets? But, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe fought with cardboard swords. They fought mock battles and brought down the country into a deep pit,” said NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressing the NPP Chilaw Rally held on Sunday (28).
“Now, they cannot fight like enemies any longer. They have to be on one stage. At a meeting held in Kalutara, Ranil Wickremesinghe was in one chair, Mahinda Rajapaksa in the next chair, Ravi Karunanayake in the next, Basil Rajapaksa sitting next and Wajira Abeywardhana in the next chair. Rohitha Abeygoonewardhana was in the next chair. Is that the elephant’s or the pohottuwa’s stage? When you see Ranil, it looks like a stage of elephants. But, when you see Mahinda in the next chair, it looks like a pohottuwa stage. But now, it is not the elephant or the pohottuwa. It is just a ‘poottuwa’ (temporary joint),” Anura Kumara Dissanayake added.
Speaking further he said: “All this time, the power of the country was with the colour green or the colour blue. They never had any doubts. Corrupt blues were protected by the green government and corrupt greens were protected by the blue government. Even when those at the top were involved in massive crimes and corrupt acts, there was never any inquiry against them. The laws were not enforced. Those corrupt people were protected by both sides. But, even though they were thinking of going on this path for several more decades, now a new political movement of common people has been built up and ready to take over the power over the country. This new political movement of the people will be undoubtedly victorious on 21 September. They are doing everything possible to prevent that victory. Huge amounts of money illegally earned by letting corrupt businessmen steal through tax on sugar, bond scams and corrupt distillery owners escape paying taxes is pumped into this election campaign. Ranil Wickremesinghe has reserved Rs. 8,750 million of this money belonging to the common people for his use and doing many large-scale distributions. Don’t let that largesse go, take everything being distributed. It is good to get even a little part of largesse collected through stealing at a time like this. What is left undistributed will be certainly confiscated when a NPP Government is established.
Furthermore, this election campaign has become one of distributing disinformation and defamation. There are no media channels to answer for us. There are some channels that have selected particular individuals and are working for them. But, millions of people we have never met but wield massive influence in social media representing the NPP. Those who oppose us are using the authority of the State and campaigning for the election in cahoots with some State officials. The Officers-in-Charge of Police Stations have been entrusted with using the Community Defence Committees established in villages in the election campaign of Ranil Wickremasinghe. The Community Defence Committees were ordered to be called to a meeting held in Wellawaya. They had to supply food and even chairs for the meeting. Even though such meetings were organised to be held in Kegalle and Galle areas, Deshabandu lost his position. That is why Ranil Wickremesinghe is so angry. He tried to make the Police, nurtured by the tax monies of the people and carrying out important tasks for people, branches of his election campaign. That is why he is saying that he does not accept the verdict of the Supreme Court. Has Ranil got to place a seal on a verdict saying he has accepted it? There is nothing like that. Can Dinesh Gunawardena say that he does not accept the verdict of the Supreme Court outside the Parliament? If Deshabandu thinks he is still the IGP, can he show one signature of his put down as IGP after the verdict was given?”
“We don’t have any State influence, power over media or the power of a massive amount of money. We only have the huge power of the people who have flown into Chilaw town like a great river. Those who have never worked with us till now, are speaking about us in office, in buses and on the road and made the NPP a right of the people. Increase the good work you have been doing seven or eight folds during the coming two months and fill the major part of the ballot box of your area with votes for the NPP. Then a government that can clean up the Parliament has to be established.
We saw how a special allowance was given to Members of Parliament and Ministers putting unbearable pressure on people. With the increase of fuel prices, a decision was taken to increase the fuel allowance of Members of Parliament by Rs. 100,000. Myself and comrades Harini and Vijitha notified the Speaker in writing not to add the increased amount of Rs. 100,000 to our fuel allowances. Even though the import of vehicles is stopped because the country’s Dollars are flowing to other countries, several MPs, irrespective of whether they are in the Government or the Opposition, have asked for vehicle permits from the Speaker in writing. Furthermore, some SJB MPs and Government MPs have obtained bar licences and are selling them for Rs. 2–3 crore. A State Minister in Kegalle obtained three bar permits and sold them for Rs. 9 crore. Sajith Premadasa said he will abolish bar permits when he comes to power. But, if he says that some MPs close to him have not obtained bar permits, I can prove otherwise. They distribute petrol sheds among themselves and sell them. This corrupt Parliament will be dissolved after the 21 September victory and an opportunity will be given to appoint a group of good people to the Parliament.
We will be carrying out a special task till the long-term processes of giving an opportunity for a clean Parliament and solving the basic issues of the people of this country are achieved. We will establish a method where food, health and educational facilities are provided for all people.we will provide medicine, diagnostic facilities and other necessities to hospitals and allocate sufficient funds for essential staff such as Doctors and nursing staff. Leaving people to remain in their beds without medicine or food, Ranil Wickremesinghe says the country will be uplifted by year 2048. It is a joke that those who destroyed the country, talking about uplifting the country. The NPP is accepting the government of the country equipped with a plan to build the country, a group able to achieve that and people with a vision who can work tirelessly. Let us all unite for a new transformation in the history of Sri Lanka eradicating poverty, free of the drug menace and where law and order prevails. Let us build an era of national renaissance giving a new lease of life to all citizens. Every one of us, whatever political party we belonged to in the past, unite for progress and the future.”
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, General Secretary, Tilwin Silva
“In the recent past, there was uncertainty whether the Presidential Election was going to be held or not. Without any doubt, now we all know that the date for the beginning of the history of our country is 21 September. Even though the rulers were chased away through the people’s struggle that sprang up in 2022, a victory could not be achieved and now Ranil Wickremesinghe has become successor President. Now, the opportunity is created for all who could not achieve victory through the people’s struggle to achieve victory through the Presidential Election. The coming election is one disliked by rulers then and now but eagerly expected by the people. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sajith Premadasa dislike this election because it will establish a people’s government instead of the administration of 76 years of shady gangs. We, you, all of us have got together not to appoint just another President. Our theme is a ‘New national renaissance.’ A new uprising is needed. During the past 50–60 years, we have eaten on loans, heaping them up without repaying. When Ranil Wickremesinghe took over power, the loan total was 83 billion Dollars. Now it is over 100 billion Dollars.
NPP Executive Committee Member Chathuranga Abeysinghe and NPP Puttalam District Executive Committee Member Gayan Janaka, NPP Executive Committee Member Prof. Chandana Abeyrathne, NPP Executive Committee Member Mavulavi Muneer Mulafer and NPP National Executive Committee Member Samanmalee Gunasinghe also addressed the gathering.