by Saman Indrajith

The time had come to oust the government as the first step toward ending the 74-year-old political culture and forming a people’s government, JVP trade union wing leader K. D. Lalkantha said yesterday.

Addressing a rally at the Ananda Samarakoon Open Air Theatre at Nugegoda, Lalkantha said that the government had not been able to live up to its mandate and could not prevent people dying in queues.

“There is an all-party conference in Colombo without all parties. We hold a rally of people belonging to all parties in Nugegoda. We all got together and marched from Delkanda to here shouting only one slogan. That is, let’s send this government home. We have changed governments. Since 1948, this country has seen many governments. In the same way, people have sent them home when they do not like any of them. It is not a big deal to send a government home. We must send this government home and must not elect any such government ever again. With this government we must end the 74-year-old political culture that has become the bane of this nation. Some of those opposing the government only call for the change of government. Change of government would not solve our problems. It is like changing pillows to cure a headache. We know that changing pillows would not solve our problems. Today, thousands of people are here because they no longer believe in changing pillows but are motivated by the need to end the headache. We must bring in a government of the people for the people. Only such a government would help people. Only we can form such a government,” Lalkantha said.

“Farmers have to take to the streets asking for fertiliser, fishers have to stage protests demanding fuel for their boats, buses cannot transport people because there is no diesel. Farmers of Uva Wellassa are agitating to save their lands,” he said.

“If you can remember, there was a teachers’ struggle for rectification of their salary anomalies. They went to the courts, and took to the streets. They won one third of their demands. They will take to the streets again. There are many other unions at the end of their tether. More and more people are joining our struggle. We must prioritise our needs. Our top priority should be to send this government home.”