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JVP accuses Ranil of protecting his benefactors in SLPP by plotting to delay local polls

Published

2 years ago

2023/01/3

By Sirimantha Rathnasekera

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is trying to protect his benefactors in the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) by plotting to delay the local council elections, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday in Colombo.

“I ask Ranil and his stooges not to delay elections. Sri Lanka has a history of postponing elections and the results of this have been tragic,” he said.

The JVP leader said the new local councils should be established by 20 March 2022 as per election laws.

“The Minister earlier extended the tenure of the councils by another year by using his powers. These councils have now existed for five years. Most of the SLPP local councilors cannot face the public. The President is trying to delay the elections. What he should do is the opposite. He should hold elections at all levels,” he said,

Dissanayake said that the SLPP had come to power, promising to end the political career of Ranil Wickremesinghe.

“The SLPP then called Ranil a traitor. However, the SLPP MPs are now propping up Wickremesinghe. This is an abuse of the mandate given to the SLPP. Neither the SLPP nor the United National Party (UNP) has a strong voter base now,” he asserted.

He said the government was pretending that the economic crisis was over and that they were a legitimate government. However, once elections wereheld and the SLPP and the UNP crushed, it would be impossible to maintain this pretence, he said.

Dissanayake said Sri Lankans as well as the international community were aware that the government did not have public support. “This has made finding solutions to the economic crisis of the country impossible.

“No country has come forth to support us. Why would they? They don’t want to lend money or aid to an illegitimate government. The best thing to do is hold elections and allow a legitimate government to take over. The more we wait the harder it will be to overcome the crisis,” he said.

However, the Ranil-Rajapaksa government did not care for the country and was doing everything in their power to cling to power, the JVP leader said.

“They are now trying to postpone the local council elections. The Election Commission has to call for nominations this week. There are rumours that the government will postpone the election after accepting nominations. This will have disastrous consequences for the country. We will be known as a country that doesn’t hold elections,” he said.

Dissanayake said that UNP’s Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and Palitha Range Bandara claimed the government did not have 10 billion rupees for an election.

“They aren’t even MPs. The parliament has control over public finance. The parliament has already allocated the money for the election. So, these stooges must stop their whining. Some government backers claim that an election could wipe the economic gains made over the past few months. What economic gains are they talking about? People are suffering. SMEs will collapse once the electricity tariff is increased in January. Ranil and the clan can’t save the country,” he said.

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We aspire to build a nation where all citizens coexist in peace and resilience for the future generation -PM

Published

1 hour ago

2025/04/21

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government is ready to listen to the people and aspire to ensure a peaceful and united nation for future generations.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing public gatherings on April 20 at the Manik Farm Community Development Centre in Settikulam and the Ukkulankulam Ground in the Vanni electoral district.

The current Parliament has the highest number of female representation in its history. Previously, women constituted less than 5% of Parliament out of the total number of 225 However, 52% of the country’s population are women.

Women play a significant role in sustaining the economy, maintaining family structures, and upholding society yet their representation in decision-making bodies has been limited. Therefore, we urge you to elect not only male representation to Parliament but also more female representatives from the Vanni district.

Vavuniya is currently developing into a thriving city. Therefore, essential services expected from provincial councils must be effectively delivered. Local government bodies should actively participate in the development of the rural sector.

We recognize that education holds significant value for the people of the North. You place great importance on education. However, the country’s education system has deteriorated and weakened. Specifically, the lack of necessary attention to the education sector in the North has made it more challenging compared to other regions. Moreover, I have learned of a more alarming issue that the diminishing value placed on education by young men and women. Clandestine Drug Distribution and alcohol are now readily visible in everywhere. There are no avenues for youth to find joy while avoiding these substances. The underdevelopment of fields such as science, arts, and drama has left them without means to find happiness. Therefore, significant interventions must be necessary.

If you elect a group that is free from corruption and fraud, we can allocate funds without hesitation, ensuring they reach the appropriate hands. These funds can then be directed towards the development of your village. That is why your choice is important.

The events were attended by Deputy Minister of Co-operative Development, Upali Samarasinghe, Vavuniya District MPs S. Thileepan and M. Jegatheeswaran, along with the local government candidates and residents.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Exposition of sacred tooth relic extended by an hour –

Published

2 hours ago

2025/04/21

Priyan

[file pic]

The Sri Dalada Maligawa has announced that due to the large number of devotees coming to Kandy to venerate the sacred tooth relic, the time of exposition of the sacred tooth relic has been extended by an hour.

Accordingly the public can pay homage from 11.30am upto 05.30pm from today [21]

News

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, Vatican says

Published

2 hours ago

2025/04/21

Priyan

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican has announced.

His Eminence, Cardinal Farrell, announced with sorrow the death of Pope Francis, with these words: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.” “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.”

Farrell adds: “With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

Francis’s papacy heralded many firsts and while he never stopped introducing reforms to the Catholic Church, he remained popular among traditionalists.

He was the first Pope from the Americas or the southern hemisphere. Not since Syrian-born Gregory III died in 741 had there been a non-European Bishop of Rome.

He was also the first Jesuit to be elected to the throne of St Peter – Jesuits were historically looked on with suspicion by Rome.

Francis’s predecessor, Benedict XVI, was the first Pope to retire voluntarily in almost 600 years and for almost a decade the Vatican Gardens hosted two popes.

As Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina, he was already in his seventies when he became Pope in 2013.

[BBC]