News
Ganesan sees nothing but crony capitalism in govt.
… says people voted to elect true leaders, but they got dealers
By Saman Indrajith
Tamil Progressive Alliance leader SJB Parliamentarian Mano Ganesan recently said that people who had voted for the SLPP expecting true leaders to develop the country had instead got a bunch of dealers.
Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo, MP Ganesan said that prior to the presidential and general elections a political campaign led by Gotabaya Rajapaksa the people had been promised that the country would be run by professionals. “That was the main slogan of the Viyathmaga led by the President. Their message to people was that the country was rudderless and the public should vote for them so that the country would have true leaders. People believed in that and voted for them. Now, those who voted for the SLPP have realised that they were duped. They now know that they elected a government run by a bunch of dealers instead of leaders.
“The President goes around the country vowing tough action against corruption, fraud, exploitation of people and promising a better country. But his words are not matched with deeds. The government issues gazettes to control prices but big businesses carry on regardless. The aim of reviewing taxes should have been to increase government revenue or provide relief to people. The recent tax revisions did not help people and benefited only a bunch of businessmen dealers.”
He said that the country was now governed by the very same bunch of dealers. “It is no longer our SLFP politicians or senior parliamentarians in government who run this country now but some dealers. Many senior politicians have been sidelined. Take the issue of repatriating Sri Lankan workers. They make a tremendous contribution to the economy and help keep the economy afloat. Some of them even flew here during the election especially to vote for the SLPP. But today the government has allowed those migrant workers to be fleeced by the friends of a bunch of dealers in the government.”
“The dealers have become more powerful than political leaders. It is those dealers who had Ukrainian tourists brought here at the expense of the Sri Lankan expatriate workers.
SJB Kurunegala District MP JC Alawathuwala also addressed the press.
A group of Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) members, including its Leader Mano Ganesan, met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Thursday (02) morning at the Presidential Secretariat.
Extensive discussions were held on the issues faced by the Malayagam communities, particularly in relation to education, housing and land, as well as on the urgent measures required to address these concerns. The President paid special attention to all these matters.
Attention was also drawn to the recruitment of qualified Tamil-medium teachers to address the teacher shortage in estate sector schools and this too was discussed at length.
Members of Parliament P. Digambaram and V. Radhakrishnan, along with several other party members, were present at the meeting.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vijitha Herath, held talks with Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Andrey Rudenko at the Foreign Ministry, in Colombo, on Thursday (02), with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.
The Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the visiting Russian Deputy Minister noted that Russia regarded Sri Lanka as a long-standing friend.
Rudenko assured that Russia stood ready to support Sri Lanka when required, including in the swift supply of Russian oil to help address the current energy challenges, encouraging Russian investors to explore new opportunities in the country and promoting increased tourist arrivals.
He also expressed Russia’s readiness to provide compensation for Sri Lankan war veterans who had lost their lives in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Minister Herath welcomed Russia’s willingness to assist, emphasising that Sri Lanka valued the support extended by its “old friend”, particularly at a time when the country was facing pressing energy needs.
He noted that the two countries shared nearly seven decades of diplomatic relations and said the present moment provided an opportunity to further strengthen ties, including through long-term trade agreements.
The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in the fields of energy, investment, tourism and diplomacy, with both sides reiterating their commitment to further deepen the longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and Russia.
Police yesterday arrested 157 foreign nationals in connection with an alleged organised online financial scam, conducted from a hotel in the Iranawila area in Chilaw.
The suspects were taken into custody during a raid carried out by the Police while they were staying at the hotel in Iranawila.
Police said the arrested group included 143 nationals from China, 13 from Bangladesh and one from Vietnam.
Investigators suspect the group had been involved in a coordinated online financial scam, targeting victims through digital platforms.
The suspects are being detained for further questioning while investigations are continuing to determine the full extent of the operation and whether additional individuals were involved.Police said further inquiries are underway.
By Norman Palihawadane
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