JVP rejects President’s invitation, insists he must go

JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake

• JVP leader says President, Govt. must heed people’s call and step down
• Party will play no role in drama being enacted by President
• Says JVP will wholly back people’s uprising
• Insists any interim Government only after present rulers are removed from office
• Opines outgoing CBSL Governor Cabraal must be held accountable

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday rejected the invitation from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to join an interim administration and called on him and the Government to step down.

“We completely reject his offer. We will play no part in this drama being enacted by him. They must go home. This is what people are clamoring for, “JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said.

“Gotabaya used the resources of this country as his private property. They watched this with growing anger and now their anger has spilled onto the streets. The message is clear. They want these criminals and fraudsters to go home. We will fully support the people’s uprising,” Dissanayake said.

He said for the first-time people deified a curfew and gathered in their hundreds on the streets. “People don’t care about Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s gazettes and his notifications or anything he signs into law. They are all ignored by the people,” he said.

The JVP leader said the Rajapaksas have started a new drama now with ministers resigning on Sunday night only to be reappointed by Monday afternoon.

“The President has no understanding of the mood of the people. The people’s message is clear. They want him to go home along with those in his government,” Dissanayake said.

He said the President must understand he is playing games with the people of this country and the economy. “The ongoing protests must continue till they all go home. We will extend our full support to them,” he said.

He said once the President steps down then an interim mechanism can be put in place before fresh elections.” We can overcome this situation by installing in power a government that has the confidence of the people to be followed up with fresh polls,’ he said.

He also said that those who have defrauded the country must be held accountable.

“Ajith Nivard Cabraal has resigned as Central Bank Governor, but can we let him resign and go away. He can’t go away like this. His policies have made the country lose billions of rupees. He must be held accountable,” the JVP leader emphasised.

He said Rajapaksa has become an absentee President.

“Where is the President today? Is he hiding in a bunker? People have already rejected him. What is left is for him to step down as provided for by the law,” he said.

The JVP leader also rejected the offer by former Minister Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila to set up an interim Government. 

“They are not part of the solution, but they are very part of the problems that the country faces today. They supported nepotism, corruption, and all illegal activities. They should have no role in the future,” he added.