By Shamindra Ferdinando

Front line Socialist Party’s Education Secretary Pubudu Jagoda has alleged that Members of Parliament squandered an opportunity to address the growing concerns of the powerful public protest movement by electing UNP National List lawmaker Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new President.Addressing the media at the party office, the FSP activist said that those who fielded Wickremesinghe at the July 20 contest conveniently failed to realise that the public protest campaign compelled Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign on May 09 and July 14, respectively.

Jagoda said that a staggering 134 out of 219 valid votes obtained by Wickremesinghe certainly didn’t reflect the actual situation on the ground. The FSP spokesperson thanked the Parliament for helping them to confirm their accusations that members of the House could be bought off.

The vote on the new President proved beyond doubt that the Parliament as an institution had been tainted and suffered irrevocable damage due to actions of its members, Jagoda said.He asked how the public could depend on such an institution to address economic, political and social issues.

Pointing out that a President elected with an overwhelming majority of nearly 7 mn votes had been compelled to run away from the country, Jagoda said that the UNP leader who had been rejected by the electorate but entered Parliament under controversial circumstances several months after the last general election in August 2020 shouldn’t expect plain sailing.

The breakaway JVP faction spearheaded the high profile public protest campaign launched on March 31 at President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence at Pangiriwatta, Mirihana.

Jagoda alleged that several lawmakers received assurance that they would be appointed Prime Minister while several dozens were promised ministerial portfolios.The FSP spokesperson claimed that of those who had been targeted in retaliatory attacks following Temple Trees mob rampage were offered luxury apartments with sizeable allocations for procurement of furniture.

After the declaration of Wickremesinghe as the winner, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who ended up with just three votes drew attention of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to the accusations pertaining to some lawmakers receiving bribes. The JVPer drew angry reactions from those who voted for Wickremesinghe.

Jagoda questioned the likelihood of Wickremesinghe overcoming the daunting challenges faced by the country.Alleging that the recent 20 Rupee price reduction of petrol was meant to deceive the people, the FSP spokesman said that such silly efforts wouldn’t help the new administration. Having achieved nothing during his six previous stints (not full terms), he asked how Wickremesinghe expected to lead the country out of current turmoil.

According to Jagoda, the new administration would work overtime to cause rifts among the public protest movement while resorting to the use of law enforcement and military to break up the growing campaign.He also vowed to take the reins of government. “We have proved our strength. We’ll build up public power and use it as required,” Jagoda said, urging the public not to accept Wickremesinghe as the new President.Jagoda said that the public protest movement was aware of the government strategies and would respond accordingly.

Former Director General of Information Department Attorney-at-Law Sudarshana Gunawardena appearing on Derana ‘Big Focus’ yesterday dismissed allegations pertaining to bribing of MPs. Gunawardena who had been the then PM Wickremesinghe’s spokesperson said that there was absolutely no basis for such allegations. The JVP was trying to take the shine out of a significant victory achieved by Wickremesinghe and the Parliament at a time continuing efforts were being made to further destabilize the country.