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The leaders have spoken and the battle lines have been drawn
View(s):UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe:
“On January 8, as we requested, the people elected Maithripala Sirisena as President. We defeated the Rajapaksa regime. That was a revolution. Even though we were a minority in parliament we still managed to grant the people’s wishes. We brought freedom to the country, stopped theft, and created unity between the races and religions.
Pic by Pradeep Pathirana
“I was able to unite everyone and end the hatred between races and religions. We put into action all the short term development plans of the 100-day programme. We reduced prices of oil and of essential items; increased salaries of government servants; brought down the price of rice to Rs. 50 a kilo.
“We brought the 19th constitutional amendment to parliament. We did all that though we were a minority in a parliament where the majority was pro Mahinda Rajapaksa. They did their best to sabotage what we were doing and to make the Rajapaksa regime come back. Our intention now is to consolidate our victory of January 8 through the general elections. We created the United National Front to carry ahead the work of good governance.
“I have at hand many plans to strengthen the economy. Our plan is to build up the future of the people. But Mahinda Rjapaksa’s plan is to strengthen the Rajapaksa regime. That is why the coming elections are so crucial.
“Mahinda had ample time, 10 years, to work for the people. He proved himself unable to build up the future of the people. He cut down on healthcare and on jobs. Consequently poor housewives had to leave for jobs in the Middle East. People lived on a single meal a day. The Rajapaksa regime however lived in luxury, leaving a staggering burden of debt on the country.
Mahinda Rajapaksa:
Full house: Political party leaders were in full strength at their inaugural political rallies. The JVP had its first meeting at Maharagama (top), the UNP at Kandy and the UPFA (above) at Anuradhapura
“We have started a decisive political journey from Anuradhapura. It is a city where invaders of the country were brought to their knees and where economic prosperity prevailed for many years. It is also the city where the Sacred Sri Maha Bodhiya is.
“I remember that on May 18, 2009, people of this entire country held the national flag in their hands and celebrated, those same hands were used to send me home on January 8. But I am a believer in democracy and went home to Medamulane 12 hours before the final results of the election were announced. Earlier I used to go to the people to inquire about their welfare but thousands of people from all around the country began visiting me, clamouring for my return.
“Those of you living in Anuradhapura are aware of how you suffered before May 2009. How many body bags carried soldiers to your villages, how many of you had to sleep in the jungle in fear of your lives. I am the one who stopped the blood flow but they have started pointing the finger at me and making accusations against me. I gave freedom to this country which is why today Ranil Wickremesinghe can go all over the country without fear and scold me. Today many public servants are being harassed; and some have left their jobs as they cannot work with the present day authorities. Those who worked closely with me are being questioned and harassed. This is not what was expected from those who preached ”yahapalanaya.”
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake:
“The people of our country have been changing governments and leaders for the past 67 years. Not long after bringing one party to power, the people wish to topple it and have the other party; and so on and so forth. This act kept repeating itself.
“On January 8 we defeated the Rajapaksa regime. We had asked the people to bring an end to the Rajapaksa rule; but we could not guarantee for the new government to come. Defeating Rajapaksa is not defeating the person but defeating the principles he represents. The people voted against the Rajapaksa regime to bring an end to corruption, chicanery and theft; also against an emerging society with no law, democracy or discipline; and against the country getting burdened by debt.
“The people congregated here today voted against Mahinda Rajapaksa on January 8. We toppled that rule and elected a new president. But what kind of a government did we end up with?
“Maithripala Sirisena promised he would abolish the executive presidency. And did he do that? We were in the committee to draft the 19th amendment. We requested a sentence according to which anyone changing their party would lose their parliamentary seat. The current situation in the country is to be blamed mostly on politicians switching parties to get ministerial posts and to dodge court cases against them.
“A set of ethics for MPs was proposed, and we were given the task of drafting them. We came up with a set of ethics. One was that MPs cannot engage in business. It was also decreed that all aid given to representatives of the public must be visible to all. All the time we were in the National Executive Council we inquired when the set of ethics would be brought in. But they played deaf.
“Then they promised to bring in the Right to Information Bill. The bill was drafted. When we inquired we were told it would be presented in Parliament in May. But it never happened. How can people who cannot even bring a bill manage bigger things?
Democratic Party Leader Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka:
“Persons who swindled money from the Pradeshiya Sabhas and Provincial Councils and even rogue MPs and ministers are the ones attempting to bring back Mahinda Rajapaksa. It is necessary to live a simple life and manage with a simple salary when it comes to good governance.
The vehicle that Filed Marshal Fonseka was travelling in when he was targeted by a suicide bomber was also on display at the inaugural election rally in Tissamaharama.