MR says LG polls akin to referendum; urges people to vote out Govt.

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa

The first political rally of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) headed by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was held on Saturday, near the Kadawatha bus station. 

Thousands of supporters from the region attended the event, marking the first of a series of rallies that will be held leading up to the Local Government elections.   

The theme for the rally was ‘Let’s rebuild the nation once again’. Several members of the Joint Opposition and SLPP members were in attendance at the event. 

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa was received by the gathering with much appreciation. Speaking to the people, Rajapaksa reminded them that the Local Government polls would be akin to a referendum as it would be an expression of public opinion. 

He added that the current Government had failed at every point, displaying a very fickle foundation. “The Government has no stability, there’s a cold war going on between the President and Prime Minister. A Government cannot function as a divided front,” he said in his closing remarks. 

Speaking at the event, former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nimal Lanza stated that he had no regrets over leaving his ministerial portfolio and that he felt confident in his choice to join the SLPP. He further stated that a host of Government members would join the SLPP in the next few weeks and that the SLPP would form a new Government in two years’ time.  However, he stated that there were certain politicians who were afraid of crossing over for fear of losing their political and administrative posts. 

MP Keheliya Rambukwella stated that the political saviour of the masses had been stripped down from his high horse to the state of a criminal through the outcome of the bond scandal. 

Also speaking at the event, MP Bandula Gunawardena stated that all UNP members within the Government should issue a public apology and resign from their posts in the Government as the Finance Minister appointed by their Government was involved in large-scale fraud. 

Leader of the Joint Opposition in Parliament Dinesh Gunawardena stated that the very same people who accused several Opposition members of being corrupt were caught in the midst of the largest financial fraud in the history of Sri Lanka. 

MP Udaya Gammanpila compared the current Government to the folktale of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves. “The current regime is now the baby elephant and his 40 thieves. We make a vow to the people that we will not stop our struggle until all the corrupt members of the Government are sacked and put in jail,” he stated. 

MP Wimal Weerawansa stated that the Government secured a fluke victory in 2015 by banding groups of political parties together. “Now that all the coalition members have fallen out, the people will cast their votes for the only clear choice, the SLPP,” he said. 

He added that the country would have been rid of its debt burden if not for the actions of those involved in the bond scam.