By Saman Indrajith

New Lanka Liberal Party Leader MP Kumara Welgama told Parliament last week that the entire nation is getting ready for the next presidential polls and people expect only a candidate who could assure that there would be end to thievery and corruption by political leaders.

Participating in a debate on notifications under the Excise Ordinance, Welgama warned all presidential candidates to wean themselves of politicians notorious for frauds and corruption for people are not ready to vote for such candidates in cohort with thieves.

 “All people across the country demand that they need politicians who are not thieves and fraudsters,” Welgama said.

He said: This is one of the main demands of the Aragalaya too. I call on President Ranil Wickremesinghe to whom I voted to elect him the President to get rid of thieves around him if he expects to contest the next election. I tell the same to our own Prince Diyasen – Sajith Premadasa and JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Do not get corrupt politicians on your stages, for you won’t get people’s votes,” he said.

“I voted for Ranil Wickremesinghe despite opposition from many MPs on our side, because I thought he was the man suitable for that task. And, he steered the country out of chaos and ended queues. Last week, I saw the President was in Kalutara attending a rally held to felicitate MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena. On that stage were the three Rajapaksas who had been named by the Court as responsible for the economic crisis. There are many corrupt elements and few good men. When the President started his speech, he called Abeygunawardena Rattharan. That name was used to identify a notorious gold chain snatcher who used to snatch necklaces of women travelling in trains from Kalutara to Aluthgama. That is a different person, not our MP Abeygunawardena, but when the President uses the same name to denote the MP, that thief comes to our mind.

“On that stage was a businessman from my district who was planning to contest elections. This was the man who had once brought in hospital garbage from England to this country for money.

“What do people think when they see all these notorious characters on stage? Would they cast their votes for them?

“The President also said that he would have to rob the Central Bank of England too if he is going to maintain the ongoing political culture. While I was on the other side, I too used to accuse him of robbing the Central Bank. It was done during election time and those who benefited from that are on this side of the well of parliament with me. There are many thieves and fraudsters among us. All Presidents and Ministers in this country helped themselves from the public purse. There is none to be acquitted of stealing public money. This must come to an end. That is what people are asking for.

Whoever comes to power in the next election will have to convince people that thieves would be punished the way Lee Kwan Yew did in Singapore.

My party hopes to support a presidential candidate from the Kalutara District. The candidate in our mind has enough parliamentary exposure. That candidate will pledge action against all the thieves in politics irrespective of party colors. He will do the same,” Welgama said.