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We won’t let govt. pilfer people’s right, says Ranil
By Dinith Karunaratne
Addressing the Jana Bala Mission yesterday UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said the UNP will not let the Coalition Government pilfer the people’s democratic right of a Presidential election to choose a new President.
The Opposition Leader said the opportunity should be given to the people to choose a new President within this year itself.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said, “The Jana Bala Mission commenced from Dondra Head with the aim of helping the tsunami victims, resolving the cost of living problem, securing the country from war and ending the unemployment problem in Sri Lanka.”

He said Sri Lanka received a massive amount of aid from the international community when the country was devastated by the tsunami but none of that aid reached the affected people, with refugees still living under tents.

He said during January and February the people witnessed world leaders and international organisations donating aid money to the President, Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers. What happened to that money, he asked. He said that though it may not be possible to locate the tsunami aid money which was stolen, the Jana Bala Mission’s aim is to force the Government to at least distribute the remaining aid to the victims.

“The Coalition Government promised to reduce the cost of living and to create employment within three months and provide quick solutions”, he said.
According to UNP Deputy General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake when the protest campaign commenced yesterday from the Sri Vishnu Shrine, Dondra Head, under the patronage of Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, after concluding the religious programmes at the Sri Vishnu Shrine at Dondra, more than 100,000 people participated.

Road transport was hampered during the parade when the protest campaign moved forward on the Matara -Colombo Road. When the leading group reached the Uyanwatta Stadium in Matara the last group was still at the starting point of the parade. Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, Chief Opposition Whip Mahinda Samrasinghe, Parliamentarians G. L. Peiris, Gamini Jaywickrema, Gamini Lokuge, Lakshman Kiriella, Ravi Samaraweera, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene, P. Dayaratne and Dayasiri Jayasekera marched at the head of the parade.

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