JO and SLPP to hold ‘massive’ demonstration against Govt.

• Rally to be held on 17 August
• Protest against Govt. failure to uphold law and order and uplift economy

By Skandha Gunasekara

The Joint Opposition along with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will hold a demonstration in Colombo on 17 August to protest the Government’s failure to uphold the rule of law in the country. 

Addressing a media briefing at the SLPP headquarters yesterday, Joint Opposition MP Namal Rajapaksa called on all professionals, civil societies and members of the public to join the rally.

“The real opposition movement has organised a massive rally to protest the incompetence of this Government. We call on all professionals, civil societies and members of the general public to join us in this rally,” he said. He pointed out that despite three years lapsing since the incumbent Government was elected to power, it had failed to fulfil its election pledges.

“On 17 August it will be exactly three years since this Government was elected. However, they have failed to look after the people. The economy is shambles. The rupees depreciating constantly. There is no economic or political stability.”MP Rajapaksa went on to say that the rally was open to all communities.

“The Government is trying to portray racism in Sri Lankan society merely to garner more votes at elections, but what have they done for the minority communities? The north is in disarray as there is no law and order. No development is being carried out in the north and east. The development drive that was started by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has come to a standstill.”

Furthermore, MP Rajapaksa accused the Government of delaying Provincial Council elections.  “They talk of devolution of power but they only want power devolution among politicians, not with the people. They have continued to postpone Provincial Council elections,”

He noted that the location of the protest rally would be revealed closer to the date. “We don’t want to reveal the location of our protest rally as it would cause the Police officers to divert from their work of battling the underworld to seek Court injunctions in attempts to prevent us from demonstrating,” he charged.

Namal challenges President to investigate his own Cabinet 

Joint Opposition MP Namal Rajapaksa yesterday charged that President Maithripala Sirisena should first investigate his own Cabinet for drug offences before implementing the death penalty. 

“Mrs. Vijyakala Maheswarana during told the media with Minister Ranjan Ramanayake that northern politicians were engaged in the transporting drugs to and from the north, so I think he should start from his Cabinet first. Before trying to hang those in prison, the President should start investigating his own Government because his own Cabinet Ministers are complaining that Government politicians transport drugs.”

He went on to say that the Government should first uphold law and order. “Before implementing the death penalty, the President should implement law and order in the country. Once the underworld takes over society, there’s no point trying to bring in the death penalty,” MP Rajapaksa said.