Joint Opposition May Day for all anti-UNPers: MR

Tuesday, 19 April 2016 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Rajapaksa to skip SLFP May Day rally; says country was a “piece of cake” when it was handed over

By Chamodi Gunawardana

The Joint Opposition’s May Day rally is a stage for all people who are against the policies of the United National Party (UNP), insisted former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.

Addressing media at his political office in Battaramulla, Rajapaksa claimed the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MPs who were benefiting from the UNP-led Government would likely attend the SLFP May Day rally in Galle to show their ‘so-called loyalty’ to the Government.

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“The Joint Opposition Kirulapone May Day rally will be a large gathering of SLFP MPs who are disappointed about the Government. We believe people who expect a better administration will also be gathered there,” he said.

Rajapaksa said he still did not receive any official invitation for the SLFP May Day rally except the open verbal invitation of the Party Secretary. He further said he may skip the SLFP celebration as he did not have enough time to attend two May Day rallies in one day.

Rajapaksa challenged President Maithripala Sirisena to hold the Local Government elections immediately and claimed it would help the SLFP increase its political advantage.

Slamming the Government, the former President compared Sri Lanka to a piece of cake when he handed it over in 2015 claiming everything was “in order and in shape”. However, he said the Government had failed to gain benefits from the given opportunity.

“We had put an end to the war, developed the country and increased foreign reserves before the Government took control of the country. It was handed over like a piece of cake and everything was in order. But once the Government took over, the economy collapsed rapidly,” he said.

No chance for discipline violators: Samarasinghe

Skills Development and Vocational Training Minster Mahinda Samarasinghe yesterday sent a strong message to Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MPs, warning them of expulsion if they attended the Joint Opposition rally.

Samarasinghe said President Maithripala Sirisena earlier gave them one opportunity to stay in the party even after they participated in the Hyde Park rally, but it would not be repeated.

Samarasinghe stressed disciplinary actions would be equally applied to all SLFPers, but demurred over action that could be faced by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“No SLFPer has the right to hold a separate May Day celebration against the United National Party (UNP) while we are having a National Government with it. I believe the SLFP does not require two May Day rallies as well as two leaders,” he alleged.