WPC rejects Wigneswaran’s federal proposal

By Chamodi Gunawardana

All political parties under the Western Provincial Council have collectively refused the federal proposal of Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran by passing another opposing proposal, said Western Province Chief Minister Isuru Devapriya yesterday.

Speaking at a media briefing, Devapriya said their proposal has been already handed over to the President and the Prime Minister as well as the Northern Province Governor. “Any political party of the Western Province or the Government couldn’t admit Wigneswaran’s proposal for a federal solution. We never let the country, which has survived thanks to thousands of Army personnel’s priceless sacrifices, split into pieces,” he noted.

Devapriya claimed the Joint Opposition was trying to spread propaganda alleging the Government’s intention was to support terrorists to rebuild by separating the Northern Province from the land. 

“President Maithripala Sirisena came to power with the aim of safeguarding the country. Therefore we strongly deny those allegations,” he stated. 

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Hewaheta Organiser and Minister S.B. Dissanayake said the party had hosted a historical event on May Day in Galle by gathering the largest crowd of SLFPers in one place. 

“I was one of the main organisers of the rally and I turned back approximately 400 buses due to lack of space at the Samanala Ground. The crowd indicated how much people trust President Sirisena,” he said.

Commenting on the tense situation which occurred in Parliament on Tuesday, Dissanayake claimed the Joint Opposition had shown its regret over its failure to gather more people at its Kirulapone May Day rally. “They made an unnecessary clash inside the House by hitting a MP to release their stress of a failed May Day event. They should not repeat such behaviour in Parliament,” he charged.