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JVP Leader warns of Colombo being put under siege to fight govt. suppression of dissent

by Saman Indrajith
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the day may not been far off when people surround the city of Colombo in protest against the suppression of their voice against unjust and undemocratic governance amidst the country’s worst-ever economic crisis.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte on Saturday, Dissanayake said that the government had failed to solve problems faced by the people.
“This government is bankrupt and deploys the police and security forces to carry out brutal attacks on protesters. Our party’s youth wing Socialist Youth Union (SYU) held a protest on 24 Sept. It was a peaceful demonstration carried out in a manner that ensured no damage was caused to any public property. But the police obstructed the protest and brutally attacked the demonstrators.
“They arrested 82 persons and seven have now been hospitalised. Ranil Wickramesinghe is acting like a dictator, violating the freedom guranteed by the Constitution. Dissanayake asked if the people had no right to protest at a time the masses including children and youth were suffering due to the consequences of the destruction caused by the wrong economic policies and destructive political culture in this country.
“Does Wickremesinghe think the people will remain quiet in the face of oppression? He is a leader with no popular mandate. However, he is now unleashing repression on the country’s people despite being one of the main accused who led the country down this destructive path,” he said.
Dissanayake said a broad social movement was being forged. “The government will not be able to stop that movement with attacks and threats. Unless the government stops suppressing dissent, it will not be long before scores of citizens surround the city of Colombo. Wickremesinghe will have to hide in barracks,” he said.
The JVP leader called on all protesters and others concerned about the country to make common cause. “We ask everyone to join a broad movement to rise against this destructive and repressive regime as well as its destructive economic policies,” he said.
JVP Central Committee member Bimal Ratunayake also addressed the press.
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Training teachers for the new education reforms will commence in May – PM

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the training of teachers required for the new education reforms will commence in May, and that contracts granted to political cronies in local government institutions will be brought to an end following the upcoming local government elections.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing public gatherings held in the areas of Mirigama, Minuwangoda, and Katana in the Gampaha District.
Addressing the gatherings, Prime Minister stated:
“From birth to death, all the aspects of life of a person are handled by local government institutions. However, to this day, these institutions lack proper systems even to provide the people with basic facilities.
We are committed to working with a proper system, free of fraud and corruption, and managing every rupee carefully and attentively. We are identifying the needs of people and implementing projects under a systematic plan to develop rural sectors.
You elect fellow members who stand firmly against fraud and corruption through two decisive elections. First, you elect Anura Kumara as President, a leader committed to fighting corruption. Then, in the parliamentary election, you choose a group of qualified individuals who are equally dedicated to this cause to represent you in Parliament.
To ensure that the funds allocated for rural development reach the people, the local government institutions which are the closest to the villagers must also be clean and transparent. That is why this election is so important to us.
The people and the villages come to experience our corruption-free political culture through local government institutions. These institutions must properly implement, monitor, and evaluate the development projects allocated to the rural sector. The era of awarding contracts for such projects to political cronies must end.
Although early childhood development is a crucial part of education, there has never been a proper system for it. We are now establishing such a system. Starting in May, teacher training for the modern education which is being introduced will begin. We have a comprehensive plan for development across all sectors.
The Ministry of Education has received billions worth of projects, but there is no proper implementation process. For example, 1,500 smart boards were brought for smart classrooms, but the Secretary to the Ministry has not implemented a system to distribute them to schools. Teachers have not been trained to use them. Teacher training institutes still follow outdated curriculum. This will be corrected through the new education reforms,
In order to deliver all these benefits to the rural sector efficiently, it is essential to elect the right people for the right purposes. Therefore, in the upcoming local government elections, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya urged the public to vote for the candidates who are free from fraud and corruption presented by the National People’s Power (NPP).”
The event was attended by Parliament Chief Organizer of the ruling party Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Members of Parliament Ruwanthilaka Jayakody and Chaminda Lalith Kumara, along with several local government candidates and the residents of the area.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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