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FSP leading ‘Gota Go Home’ campaign wants Parliament to take charge, dilute executive powers

Published

4 years ago

2022/04/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

‘Time not opportune for general election’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) spokesperson Pubudu Jagoda says the Parliament should be vested with required powers, at expense of the executive, until early parliamentary elections can be conducted.

Jagoda, one of the key FSP activists spearheading the ‘Go Gota Home’ campaign emphasised that the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa was a prerequisite for the formulation of an all-party parliamentary mechanism. The FSP activist insisted that their resignations shouldn’t be subject to a prolonged discussion.

Commenting on ongoing talks for an interim all-party arrangement, Jagoda said that such a set-up was not realistic. Pointing out differences of opinion among the sharply divided government parliamentary group as well as the Opposition, the FSP official said that the political crisis couldn’t be addressed without taking into consideration the grievances of those who had taken to the streets.

If those represented in Parliament are genuinely interested in finding a solution to the economic-political-social crisis, they should without delay introduce an amendment to dilute executive powers, Jagoda said. Having done that the Parliament could empower itself to undertake the daunting challenge of economic recovery, the erstwhile JVPer said.

The FSP came into being in early April 2012 following the second major split in the JVP since the elimination of its founder leader Rohana Wijeweera in Nov 1989 after being captured by the government, while he was masquerading as a proprietary planter. The first split occurred in May 2008 when a group of lawmakers led by Wimal Weerawansa switched allegiance to the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Asked whether the FSP backed the main Opposition the Samagi Jana Balavegaya’s call for immediate general election, the FSP’s Education Secretary questioned the rationale behind that stand against the backdrop of the current grave economic crisis. “Obviously, the SJB cannot be unaware of the ground situation. The country is not in position to undertake such a costly exercise. Furthermore, the current situation does not permit an election campaign,” Jagoda said.

Jagoda stressed that their assertion that time was not opportune for a general election shouldn’t be misconstrued.

Four days before the eruption of public protest at President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence at the Pengiriwatte Road, Mirihana, on March 31, the FSP launched the ‘Movement for People’s Struggle’ to take on the government. The project was announced on March 27 at the Ananda Samarakoon Outdoor Theater in Nugegoda.

Declaring the countrywide protest campaign conducted by a grouping of trade unions and other organizations as a success, Jagoda said that cohesive action plan was required to sustain pressure on the government.

Asked to explain, Jagoda acknowledged the need for proper leadership for the ongoing public protests and ways and means to transform that movement into a viable political project.

The former JVPer said that those who represented the Parliament clearly lacked a clear understanding of the public mood. Had they really understood the political developments, the current dispensation wouldn’t have appointed a new cabinet while retaining Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister, he said.

Subsequent to the incidents at Mirihana, the organizers of the ongoing protest campaign called for a countrywide protest on April 03.They launched a high profile campaign at the Galle Face Green on April 09 before conducting countrywide protests on April 28.

Organizing Secretary of the FSP Duminda Nagamuwa addressed the gathering at Galle Face on April 28 where he vowed to continue with the ongoing campaign.

Asked to explain FSP leader Kumar Gunaratnam’s role in the public protest campaign, Jagoda said that though he didn’t visit the Galle Face protest ground the leader addressed the media. The FSP is the only political party active therein.

Jagoda said that the FSP was ready to engage in a dialogue with the protesting people as part of the overall efforts to highlight the need for public friendly government policies.

The FSP run Inter-University Student Federation (IUSF) spearheads the Galle Face protest. IUSF cadre launched large scale protests at Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Wijerama residence demanding his immediate resignation.

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PM on inspection tour of newly renovated Colombo Central Bus Stand

Published

9 hours ago

2026/04/10

Priyan

The Colombo Central Bus Stand, which has a history of over six decades and had remained without a proper maintenance for many years, has now been renovated under the current government’s development programme and vested to the public. Following that, the Prime Minister undertook an inspection tour of the newly renovated Colombo Central Bus Stand.

Originally constructed in 1964, the bus stand was refurbished with modern facilities to meet current needs and was officially reopened to the public on April 8. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide passengers with a higher-quality and more comfortable transportation service.

During the renovation process, special attention has been given to the comfort and safety of women, which was commended by the Prime Minister. In particular, a modern rest area designed to ensure privacy for nursing mothers travelling from distant areas received special praise.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the newly introduced passenger seat reservation system and information services established to assist commuters. In addition, the modern surveillance unit and other security measures installed within the premises to ensure passenger safety were also inspected.

During the visit, the Prime Minister engaged in conversations with passengers at the bus stand and inquired about their views on the newly renovated facilities and the quality of transport services.

It was emphasized that the government’s objective is to transform public transportation into a safe, technologically advanced service that can be used with convenience by all citizens.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

Latest News

Sun directly overhead Nagawilluwa, Galgamuwa, Sigiriya, Palugasdamana and Mankerni about 12:11 noon today (10)

Published

10 hours ago

2026/04/10

Priyan

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from the 05th to 15th of April in this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (10th) are Nagawilluwa, Galgamuwa, Sigiriya, Palugasdamana and Mankerni about 12:11 noon.

News

Opposition tells Minister Kumara Jayakody to resign

Published

11 hours ago

2026/04/10

Thilina Walpola

Prof. Peiris

No-faith motion to be taken up today

Former Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (9) said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake should remove Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody unless the minister stepped down on his own.Prof. Peiris, addressing a press conference called by the Opposition, said that Jayakody couldn’t under any circumstance continue to serve as a minister after the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) moved the Colombo High Court against the government member over a previous financial scandal.

Pointing out that Minister Jayakody had been indicted of a corrupt deal struck during the yahapalana regime, Prof. Peiris said it was wrong for the NPP to retain him as a minister, claiming that the offence was not committed during his tenure as a Cabinet minister in the current government.

Prof. Peiris and several other Opposition members dealt with the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Jayakody that would be taken up today (10) with the academic calling the vote an acid test for the NPP. Having campaigned on an anti-corruption platform at presidential and parliamentary polls, the NPP couldn’t protect Jayakody though he was widely believed to be close to President Dissanayake.

As the Manager of the Procurement and Import Division of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company, Jayakody is alleged to have committed the offence of corruption, according to CIABOC.

Jayakody has been accused of causing a loss of Rs. 8,859,708 to the State by influencing and exploiting the procurement process.

Following the serving of indictments on 27 March, the judge ordered Jayakody’s release on two personal bail bonds of Rs. 1 million each. The court directed that the defendant’s fingerprints be obtained and a formal report be submitted. The case has been scheduled for a pre-trial conference on 6 May.

Prof. Peiris stressed that the CIABOC action against Jayakody is central to the NCM primarily moved over the irregularities ridden coal procurement process launched in 2025 that caused severe disruption to the power generation. Responding to The Island query after the media briefing, Prof Peiris expressed surprise that the JVP/NPP accommodated a person under investigation by the CIABOC. Having taken an utterly irresponsible decision, the JVP/NPP were now playing down the developing issue, prof. Peiris said.

The entire government parliamentary group faced the prospect of having its image tarnished by defending Jayakody, the former lawmaker said.

Prof. Peiris said that they intended to build a campaign around the issues involving the energy minister to expose the government. With yet another electricity tariff hike in the offing due to the growing demand for thermal generation as a result of coal-fired Lakvijaya power plant’s failure to meet the requirement[RA1] , the energy minister and ministry’s performances have to be examined, Prof. Peiris said.The timely release of the Auditor General’s report on controversial coal procurement should compel the government to decide on the energy minister’s fate or be prepared to face the fallout.

By Shamindra Ferdinando