SLFP brought issue of ‘national government’ to protect fraudsters

There are many factors that influence the ‘national government’ proposal by the SLFP. If an election is held now the SLFP would lose its majority in Parliament. They want to maintain their majority. Also, the ‘national government’ is a good device to protect fraudsters and the corrupt of the previous government. The fraudsters and the corrupt have been terrified. We are confident that this government, unlike the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime, would not act outside the law. We are confident the government is carrying out investigations regarding fraudsters and the corrupt according to legal provisions. As such, the attempt of the SLFP is to get thieves into the government, share cabinet portfolios among them and avoid punishment for thieves,” said the General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva.

Mr. Tilvin Silva said this speaking at a media conference held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatta yesterday (1st) morning. The Member of the Central Committee of the JVP and Member of Western PC Luxman Nipunarachchi too participated.

Speaking further the General Secretary of the JVP said, “Many issues have surfaced before the present government. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated at the election held on 8th January. People defeated the dictatorial family rule and elected a new leader with a lot of expectations. The main aspirations of the masses were democracy, good governance and relief for the people. The foremost of these were democracy and good governance. During the election campaign the amendments to win democracy was widely discussed and the 100 day programme took a leading item discussed in the election campaign of the common candidate Maithripala Sirisena. The constitutional amendments and dissolving the parliament on the 23rd April and calling for a general election were highlights in the campaign.

The government expected to adopt the right for information bill, a bill to annul Parliamentary seat if a member crosses over after being elected and a bill not to allow people with dual citizenship to contest elections in addition to making amendments to the constitution to win good governance.

However, several obstructions have been placed in adopting these amendments. In addition to the delay in the process adopted by the government certain groups are mucking up the 100 day programme. There is also the attempt to get Mahinda Rajapaksa into the political arena again. On 8th January the people in our country rejected Mahinda Rajapaksa. As such, it’s not ethical for him to come back to politics. The people would not allow it. It is really not a need of the SLFP. Certain leaders of the SLFP intentionally attempt to muck up the 100 day programme. The people defeated the former government. Mr. Maithripala Sirisena was elected. The majority of the people have voted for the 100 day programme. As such, it is this programme that should be implemented. Now, a concept about a national government has been brought up. The 100 day programme was to fulfill certain matters, dissolve the parliament on 23rd April, hold the general election under a caretaker government and to form a national government by the people’s representatives elected. If a national government is formed now what could be won during the 100 day programme would not be a reality. As such, we are against postponing the election. The Parliament should be definitely dissolved on 23rd April. A new Parliament should be elected by the people. With the opposition in the society to the national government proposals the SLFP has brought up another matter. Now they say a change in the electoral system is essential if powers of the executive presidency are reduced. They are trying to avoid the opportunity gained to abolish executive presidency. As such, they are trying to place obstacles for the move. We would like to ask the SLFP as to what happened to the committee established under Dinesh Gunawardene to change the electoral system. There was an attempt to change the electoral system even when they were in power. However, they didn’t remember about abolishing executive presidency. They are bringing in such a proposal now without taking measures to do it when they were in power is definitely to avoid abolishing executive presidential system. We, as the JVP, say the existing electoral system need not be continued. It should be changed. What the SLFP does is to create a myth regarding deficiencies of the electoral system.

Their argument is that there is no representative for the electorate and candidates have to spend a lot of money due to the preferential system. Even at present there are members representing electorates. Susil Premajayanth to Kaduwela, Jeevan Kumaratunga to Moratuwa. Like that they have allocated electorates. These were not issues for the JVP. Others can take an example from the JVP and engage in politics. A candidate also can spend the money he spent for the whole district to an electorate. This would allow racketeers with black money to win electorates by spending the money he or she had to spend for the whole district to an electorate. For, politics today are dominated by racketeers and those with big money. Hence, politics that has been vagabondized and dominated by the rich should be changed. They have entered politics to earn more money. The electoral system cannot be changed without abolishing the political culture that goes with black money. As such, if a new electoral system is to be adopted it should be more democratic and should be just and fair to all. It should reflect the wishes of the people justly. A political party that gets the votes of the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim people should get representatives in Parliament according to the ratio similar to the ratio of the total number of votes polled. A political party that gets 75 seats in Parliament with 50% of the votes polled is not fair. Also, a party that gets 10% of the votes not getting any seats in Parliament too is unfair. As such, the electoral system should be changed to a system that takes all these principles into account. This attempt to use change of electoral system to avoid abolishing certain powers of executive presidency and the move to establish independent commissions should be defeated.

The main slogan during the presidential election campaign was abolishing executive presidential system. There was no talk about a change in electoral system during the campaign. Mr. Maithripala Sirisena resigned from the SLFP and came forward as the common candidate to abolish executive presidency. He said the presidential election held was his final presidential election. If so, how could change of electoral system becomes the first priority and abolishing executive presidency comes next?

SLFP has put forward a series of proposals for constitutional amendments. Under President’s powers they state the President functions as the head of the government as well as the head of the cabinet. He could have any portfolio if he wishes. However, in the amendments stated in the 100 day programme it is stated that the leader of the state is the President but the head of the government is the Prime Minister. This shows that the SLFP wants to maintain executive powers.

The other fact is regarding presidential immunity. The SLFP states presidential immunity stated in 35.1 should be removed but legal action could be taken against the president only if fundamental rights are violated. As such, presidential immunity would not be abolished as SLFP wants to retain it.

People used their vote not to do what the SLFP wants but to implement the 100 day programme. Hence what is necessary is to take forward the 100 day programme according to the mandate given by the people. There is a good opportunity for it now. Constitutional amendments are to be brought in March. Those amendments cannot be adopted without the support of the SLFP as such amendments need 2/3rd majority in Parliament. The SLFP is attempting to use this situation to bargain. Meanwhile, some say to hold elections after adopting amendments. No one can say how long it would take and when it gets delayed the move to abolish executive presidency would not be a reality. For, Chandrika Kumaratunga who asked a mandate to abolish executive presidency didn’t do it. Also, Mahinda Rajapaksa did not do it despite promising to do it twice. Leaders do not like to abolish executive presidency when the executive powers and government powers are with one party. At present the executive powers and government powers are not with one person. This is why a good opportunity has been created to get the executive powers diminished. We should not linger as “He that rises late must trot all day.” Promises should be fulfilled without delay.

Also, it has not stated in the 100 day programme that the next election would be held according to a new electoral system. There is plenty of time to formulate a new electoral system. We see any attempt to make it an obstacle for the election to be held after the 23rd April as a reactionary and a vile attempt. It would abolish mandate of the people and bring up the need of the defeated. Hence, we totally reject SLFP proposals. We also reject the proposal for a national government.

There are many factors that influenced the ‘national government’. If an election is held now SLFP would lose the majority it has. They want to maintain their majority. Also, the ‘national government’ is a good device to protect fraudsters and the corrupt of the previous government. The fraudsters and the corrupt have been terrified. We are confident that this government, unlike the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime, would not act outside the law. We are confident the government is carrying out investigations regarding fraudsters and the corrupt according to legal provisions. As such, the attempt of the SLFP is to get thieves into the government, share cabinet portfolios among them and avoid punishment. Hence, we tell the masses this government should dissolve Parliament on 23rd April. If the constitutional amendments cannot be adopted before that a government that could adopt them should be elected to parliament at the general election as these amendments are beneficial to the people and the country. We hope to apprise people regarding this new situation. We have organized to hold a rally on the theme ‘No to ‘national government fraud’ that protects fraudsters’ at Maharagama on the 4th. We also promise masses that the JVP would take every action that could be taken to defeat the vile acts of a section of the SLFP.

Also, there are various views regarding frauds and corruption. We mediate regarding this in the National Executive Council. We have also complained to the Bribery Commission and the CID regarding fraudsters and the corrupt. We carry out agitations against the government. However, this government’s moves are very slow. Also, certain individuals in this government help fraudsters as they are their friends earlier. These fraudsters using billions they have earned through frauds, thieving and corruption attempt to buy state officials, ministers and government MPs. There are such challenges. We, as the JVP, say such attempts should be defeated. These fraudsters, the corrupt and the thieves have got terrorized when the JVP pressurizes the government to reveal frauds and corruption of the previous government. This government, whatever lapses it has, carries out investigations according to the law. When JVP mediates in exposing fraudsters the fraudsters and their lackeys get alarmed and agitate opposite JVP office with hired individuals. Such an incident occurred today. A group of people saying they are from Avant Garde Security Services came to the party head office. We are a political party that carries out agitations. Anybody has the right to agitate. However, this is another issue. Recently a floating armoury belonging to Avant Garde Security Services was taken into custody from Galle Harbour. This company belonging to Gotabhaya Rajapaksa took over the ship security service that had brought a large income to SL Navy earlier. The Navy was denied a very good income. Avant Garde company exploit the employees. We have represented the issues of genuine employees of Avant Garde. The passport of Nissanka Senadhipathy, the owner of Avant Garde was impounded with the taking into custody of weapons from the company. However, Nissanka Senadipathy's passport was restored without any investigation.

The Prime Minister and several others had a special discussion regarding this at Temple Trees. The official who had come from the Attorney General’s Department had said he held the view that the passport should not have been returned without an investigation but due the mediation of Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksa and Tilak Marapana the passport was returned to him. This was exposed to the country by Comrade Anura Dissanayaka. Wijedasa Rajapaksa as well as Nissanka Senadhipathy had said they would challenge Comrade Anura Dissanayaka for a public debate. We have no need to debate regarding this. What we say is to implement the law. Why should Mr. Senadhipathy get terrorized if he has not broken the law? There is an issue when he gets terrorized and tries to create a hullabaloo. For, it is not a simple matter. They are people with weapons. First, they requested to meet leaders of our party. We didn’t give them the opportunity. Later, they tried to pressurize us through other individuals. Today, they have hired some people to agitate opposite our office. They would also attempt to physically harm our leaders. We say we are prepared to overcome those challenges. We would not stop our politics when agitations are carried out with hired people. We would continue what we have started. Wijedasa Rajapaksa should question Ranil Wickremesinghe instead of talking about debates. For, when this exposure was made Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe too was present.”

A question by a journalist:

Wijedasa Rajapaksa had said the task of the JVP is to vituperate individuals.

Wijedasa Rajapaksa had said the JVP criticized the previous government and now he too is being insulted. We would like to tell Wijedasa we are proud that we criticized the previous government. For, we were the party that criticized the previous government without any fear when Wijedasa and the likes were scared to criticize that government and were hiding. It is because of such criticism that a force was created to send Mahinda Rajapaksa home. As such, we wonder from which part of his anatomy Wijedasa is making these views. It should be told that we do not vituperate anybody. When we criticize we do it with evidence.

Kumar Gunaratnam’s issue is not relevant to us. It is a legal matter. Mahinda Rajapaksa family rule was never a challenge to the JVP. If so, how could a party that is not on the ground and no one knows about be a challenge to the JVP?

I would like to tell Wijedasa Rajapaksa to be more responsible in his acts words and deeds.”