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| Tuesday, 16 March 2004 |
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| Freedom Alliance : 'A new path to rebuild Sri Lanka' by Uditha Kumarasinghe The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) yesterday said its manifesto was prepared based on certain policy decisions aimed at rebuilding the Nation and not to find out if the UNP can implement it or not. "After the launch of the Freedom Alliance manifesto, the UNP has made various statements about this document. A certain Minister of the UNF Government has said that the Alliance was not in a position to implement this program due to lack of funds. However, the entire responsibility of meeting this challenge is solely taken by the Freedom Alliance and not by the UNP," UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayanth told a media briefing yesterday. He said: "As the Freedom Alliance, both the SLFP and the JVP are dedicated to implement the points included in this manifesto. Therefore we urge the public to place their confidence in our manifesto." MEP Leader Dinesh Gunawardena said the Freedom Alliance manifesto has shown a new path to the people to rebuild the country's future. The UNP is shocked due to the massive public response extended to the Alliance to rebuild the country. This has clearly shown the UNP's bankruptcy, he said. The UNF Government did not sign the UN Convention on Corruption because of bribery and corruption. But, after the Alliance pleged to sign the convention, and the UNP now remembers to sign it, Gunawardena said. He said:" The UNF Government's failure to sign the UN Convention on Corruption was the maladroit vacillation from the Sri Lankan Government that prolonged the agonising wait for a Nation shamed." Gunawardena said the Freedom Alliance has also laid emphasis on making certain amendments to the tax system to eliminate bribery and corruption preventing the exploitation of national assets. The Alliance will reconsider the Rs.200 billion amnesty given to millionaires by the UNF Government. The Alliance has also taken a clear stand of amending the VAT system to bring down prices of several essential commodities. He said the Alliance has pledged to abolish the Executive Presidency and introduce a new electoral system based on a wider public representation. "Therefore we urge Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe whether he agrees or not to abolish the Executive Presidency," Gunawardena said. JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa said the Freedom Alliance launched its manifesto before other political parties. "However, the UNP was waiting until the Alliance launched its manifesto to obtain some information from it," he said According to Weerawansa, the Freedom Alliance created the environment for the UNP to launch its manifesto. "This is a great victory achieved by the Freedom Alliance," he said. Even the Prime Minister's statements have changed after the Freedom Alliance launched its manifesto. Therefore the Alliance manifesto has placed considerable pressure even on the Prime Minister, he said. Weerawansa said the UNP which is not in a position to understand the manifesto was saying that the Freedom Alliance does not have money to implement this manifesto. "Obviously, the UNP may not be able to do this. But after April 2, the Alliance through a proper financial management will practically prove how all the points in the manifesto will be implemented," he added. Weerawansa said: "The UNP has also said that if they come to power, they will not cohabit with the Executive. This will again lead to creating an unstable situation in the country. Therefore it is the duty of the public to give power to the Freedom Alliance to form a stable Government." |
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