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| Wednesday, 11 February 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| President saved country from anarchy - Fowzie by Mohammed Rasooldeen in Riyadh Security fears and the rising cost of living in the country were the main considerations for the dissolution of the Sri Lankan Parliament said former MP Abdul Hameed Fowzie, who was in transit in Riyadh while returning home after performing the Haj on Monday. Fowzie, the former Minister of Transport and Muslim Religious Affairs in the People's Alliance Government told the Daily News that it was an act of statesmanship on the part of the President to have saved the country from anarchy. He further noted that the island was plagued with strikes, fasts unto death, demonstrations, bribery, corruption and killings of innocent people etc. "Two years of rule is good enough to gauge the progress of a government", Fowzie noted. He also added that the extent of damage would have been greater if the government had been allowed to continue further. During the past two years, he said, there were no substantial projects undertaken by the Government. Although the Government signed a peace treaty with the LTTE in early 2003, the rebels continued their attacks on the innocent Muslims in Trincomalee and Batticaloa. He recalled that President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga gave the government enough chances to rectify its faults and failings and she even advised Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to form a national government with the co-operation of all political parties to avert the national crisis. "She resorted to dissolution when all her efforts to convince the government failed", he legislator lamented. Asked about the possible results of the forthcoming polls, Fowzie said that Sri Lanka has a highly literate population and it will choose the right government consistent with national interest. Speaking about the stampede at Mina, Fowzie said indiscipline among the pilgrims was the main cause of this tragedy. He felt that the pilgrims should be given adequate orientation programs on their behaviour in such situations prior to their departure for the Haj, otherwise, even a larger area at the Jamrat Bridge will not solve the serious problem faced by the Pilgrims. |
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