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Do or depart, Somawansa warns SLFP
By Nalaka Nonis
JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe yesterday warned the SLFP of serious consequences if it did not act properly and genuinely in government. Addressing some 5,000 party supporters who had gathered to mark the 33rd anniversary of the April 1971 insurrection, Mr. Amarasinghe said that if the SLFP did not fulfil its role, the JVP would back public protests to win the rights of the people.

"People's resources have been handed over to us to develop the country and distribute the benefits to them equally but not to capitalise them for personal gains. If it is not happening, people should use their power of organising against such things by way of protests", Mr. Amrasinghe told the anniversary rally at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.

He said, "it is our responsibility to protest if the country is going in the wrong direction". Mr. Amarasinghe claimed that more than 50 percent of the UPFA vote at the general election was won by the JVP. He accused the UNP of trying to create a rift in the ruling alliance by saying the JVP was getting stronger than the SLFP. He advised the SLFP not to worry about this.

Mr. Amarasinghe said JVP candidates got more votes than the SLFPers because they were more sincere, loved the country more and did not rob public resources. The JVP leader said that if the SLFP leadership did not act effectively to stop corruption, it would suffer the consequences.

Mr. Amarasinghe said there would be protests if the SLFP tried to appoint defeated candidates to top posts and the JVP would wish success to such protests.

The JVP leader said the party was so strong today that it was able to sacrifice two National List seats to the SLFP. He drew a parallel to the April 1971 life sacrifices which had enabled the JVP to be where it was today.

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