By Shamindra Ferdinando

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, MP, has stressed the pivotal importance of public protests against waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement.Alleging that those who had been entrusted with the task of governing the country have instead ruined it, Chairman of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Fonseka, on Thursday, said that every citizen should bear the responsibility for taking a stand against what he called an utterly corrupt political party system in place.

The war-winning Army Commander said so at an event organised by the Foundation for Good Governance at the Galadari Hotel Grand Ballroom.

Referring to the acceleration of political-economic-social crisis after the last presidential election held in Nov. 2019 and the rapid ruination caused during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency, lawmaker Fonseka urged the electorate to think prudently before exercising their franchise.

Urging the public to protest against politicians destroying the country, the Field Marshal said that it would be a grave mistake on their part to turn a blind eye to what was going on in the country. “Do not expect others to take up issues which affect the entire community. Accept your responsibility to engage in protests whenever you feel things aren’t right,” the Gampaha District lawmaker said, adding that he didn’t speak keeping an eye on the presidential election.

MP Fonseka said that if the public took a strong stand against wrongdoings on the part of the executive and the legislature, far reaching changes could be achieved in two or three years and a comprehensive change in seven years.

Those who really believed in Gotabaya Rajapaksa ended up disappointed and the country was now in a deepening crisis as it struggled to overcome the severe economic down caused by successive governments, one-time leader of the now defunct Democratic Party (DP) said.

Fonseka served the Yahapalana government (2015-2019) as a Cabinet Minister after UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe accommodated him on his National List. DP failed to secure a single seat at the 2015 general election and was subsequently dissolved.

At the onset of the event, President of the Foundation for Good Governance Richard de Zoysa declared that Fonseka whose role in the eradication of terrorism for once and for all couldn’t be disputed, and he is the man to lead the country out of the current crisis. Zoysa said that Fonseka had the strength and capacity to create an environment conducive for the younger generation to move in and play a spearheading role in politics. Zoysa emphasised Fonseka’s readiness to undertake reforms with the focus on the education sector. The need and the right of children living in the remotest parts of the country to receive an English education was stressed by Zoysa.

MP Fonseka dealt with a spate of contentious issues, including privatisation proposed as a key element in the country’s response to the economic crisis. The Field Marshal said that profit-making state enterprises shouldn’t be privatised under any circumstances. The MP stressed the urgent need to consolidate industries to cut down on imports and a cohesive effort to attract both foreign and local private investment.

The SJB MP said that one didn’t need to have achieved the status of an economist to realise that the country was on a wrong path and those responsible for managing the national economy had badly let down the country. Comparing what Sri Lanka could offer to foreign tourists with that of the Maldives, Pakistan and India, the former Army Commander questioned the pathetic failure on the part of successive governments to improve and expand the tourism sector. The MP recommended the setting up of more night clubs and casinos and other facilities to attract tourists in line with overall strategy to cater to their needs.

The lawmaker explained how even the super-rich here experienced the continuing crisis. When those who owned several expensive vehicles stepped out of their luxurious air conditioned homes they found the environment depressing for obvious reasons, the number one war hero said, warning of the growing threat posed by young people leaving the country.

Fonseka explained how low level politicians over the past decades caused such a catastrophe, the young simply wanted to get away from their motherland. Even the super-rich and the rich hadn’t been spared, the Field Marshal said, alleging that the bankrupt country was in the grips of what he called a Mafia network that devoured the national economy. The money was in the hands of the Mafia, MP Fonseka declared, alleging that the country had been looted and the money deposited in offshore accounts. Fonseka declared that the country had to be saved from these crooks who controlled all sectors and plundered the national wealth at will.

The Sinha Regiment veteran said that the country was in such a precarious situation he didn’t see a way out of the deteriorating crisis. Alleging that politicians destroyed the country, MP Fonseka found fault with the public service and what he called corrupt dealers. The MP asserted contrary to various estimates as much as 70 percent of the country were poor.

Fonseka said that the country should identify the priorities and take tangible measures to address the issues at hand. The soldier-turned-politician stressed the responsibility on the part of the government to rectify the foreign exchange crisis while paying sufficient attention to strengthening agriculture, fisheries, health, and education sectors. The MP made special emphasis on the need to improve public transport system at all levels to help the public to cut down on expenses. Those struggling to make ends meet had been compelled to spend so much on transport they couldn’t cope up with other expenses, the MP said.