JO rejects extension of Unity Govt.

MP Dullas Alahapperuma speaking to the media as Prof. G.L. Peiris, former Minister Tissa Vitarana and MPs Dinesh Gunawardena, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Prasanna Ranatunga and Namal Rajapaksa look on – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

By Chamodi Gunawardana

Following discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MPs representing the Joint Opposition yesterday rejected the proposal to extend the two-year agreement with the United National Party (UNP) for a Unity Government by another three years. 

Speaking to the media, MP Dullas Alahapperuma said when the President put forward the suggestion during the Monday meeting, SLFP MPs of the Joint Opposition collectively rejected it.

“In the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) manifesto issued during the past presidential election, we have clearly stated that the UPFA has no intention of forming a coalition government with the UNP. That was why we decided to sit in the Opposition benches,” he stated.

Last week SLFP General Secretary and Minister Duminda Dissanayake said the SLFP expected to renew the agreement with UNP for another three years to maintain the stability of the Government.

Alahapperuma claimed such a decision was not discussed at the SLFP Central Committee or Executive Committee so far.

In response to reporters’ questions on the President’s view of the Jana Satana Paada Yathrawa which is scheduled to be started tomorrow, Alahapperuma said the President did not discuss it during the meeting. 

“The President did not mention anything about the Jana Satana march, but requested the SLFP to refrain from forming any new political fronts,” he noted.

Slamming the SLFP General Secretary’s statement that the Central Committee would take disciplinary action against Paada Yathrawa participants, Alahapperuma said: “We are taking to the streets against the UNP Government, not the SLFP. Branding it as a violation of party discipline is amusing.”

“Being the Joint Opposition we don’t have two-thirds majority in the Parliament to remove the UNP Government. This time we are trying to make the majority by involving the general public,” he added.

Most of the SLFP MPs representing the Joint Opposition were invited for the discussion except former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and MP Namal Rajapaksa. Alahapperuma said when they questioned the President, he had said Namal was not invited due to a special reason. 

Meanwhile President Sirisena has blamed relevant officers for not informing the former Speaker about the meeting. According to Alahapperuma, the meeting was mainly focused on reforming the SLFP and organising the 65th anniversary celebrations of the party.

JO condemns Govt. criticising media

The Joint Opposition yesterday released a statement condemning remarks made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe criticising local media outlets and called for stronger adherence to the principles of democracy and good governance.

The full Joint Opposition statement issued by former Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiries is given below:

We are appalled by statements made by the Prime Minister last week threatening editors of newspapers and announcing his intention of naming and shaming other prominent media personnel who have incurred his displeasure.

In  the  case  of  one  Editor of  a  leading newspaper, the  Prime  Minister  specifically stated  that,  if  the  Editor  in  question  does  not  quit his post, methods would have to  be found to get rid of  him.

The language used in these pronouncements, which received the widest exposure, was undignified and intemperate in the extreme. 

Similar threats were uttered, with remarkable impunity, against the electronic media. 

It is a matter for the deepest regret that a Government which was elected on a platform of commitment to democratic values and media freedom, is today resorting to intimidation on a scale which has brought about an environment of the most repulsive inhibition which makes it not merely difficult but virtually impossible for conscientious journalists to perform their functions without fear.

What is truly astonishing in this dismal situation is the deafening silence of Western missions and others who, during the previous Government, were quick to make the harshest criticisms on the flimsiest of material. 

The reason for this, regrettably, is that the present Government, as an appendage of these forces, consistently gives priority to carrying forward their agenda, rather than fulfilling the aspirations of the people of our own country.