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| Tuesday, 30 March 2004 |
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| Freedom Alliance in winning mood - President President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at a special news conference with the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation telecast last night claimed the Freedom Alliance was moving with satisfaction and it was in a winning mood as people appeared to have made their decision to bring the Alliance to power. The President replying questions from Rupavahini's T. G. M. Chandrasekere said the election campaign was relatively peaceful with all candidates working hard towards an Alliance victory. "The decision by the Elections Commissioner to strictly enforce the law to ban posters and banners is most welcome, though we do not know why he strictly imposed it this time", the President quipped. President Kumaratunga said the people understood that the country was moving towards total corruption as Government 'cronies' were on rampage making money at will. She further pointed out that the peace process was moving in the wrong direction, posing a serious threat to the Muslim community in the East, while the process broke down eight months before she took over the defence portfolio. "When I took over Defence, the Prime Minister opted out of the peace process and today its 13 months and the government has miserably failed to resume it to find a lasting solution", the President added. She accused the UNF administration of having awarded tenders in the most horrendous manner to enable its cronies to make money, while the cost of living sky rocketted. Dr. Sarath Amunugama representing the Freedom Alliance in reply to a question by the Moderator said the SLFP had gone for Alliances from 1956 and had emerged victorious. Explaining features of the present Alliance, Dr. Amunugama said it was quite in order that the members of the Alliance grouped together fully understanding the changes in the world where globalisation and privatisation was in existence. "We formed this Alliance after discussing for one year and not just close to election. Therefore,the Alliance is very broad to examine all national problems", he pointed out. The JVP's Wimal Weerawansa said the UNF posed a grave threat to national security where the three communities could not live together. Referring to the Athurugiriya Millennium City episode where the intelligence of the security forces was made a bait, Weerawansa claimed the UNF government turned a blind eye to the security needs of the country allowing the LTTE a free hand to kill intelligence men. He said "Regaining Sri Lanka" of Ranil Wickremesinghe was a total sell out of state property to foriegners and the Alliance was formed as an alternative to protect the culture,dignity and resources of the country. Alliance General Secretary, Susil Prem Jayanth said the formation of Alliances that began under late Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike in 1956 developed further under Mrs. Bandaranaike and today it had broadened under President Kumaratunga to protect the country and the people. Alliance partner Mrs. Ferial Ashraff making her contribution said the nation was divided among the three communities as they feared to live together due to security threats and the step towards an alliance would enable the people to have a common Sri Lankan identity to march forward towards prosperity. |
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