|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Wednesday, 14 July 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Politics | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
| UPFA receives massive mandate against corruption and poverty by Uditha Kumarasinghe Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera said yesterday the people have once again approved the United People's Freedom Alliance's (UPFA) vision to take the country forward giving a massive mandate to the Government to implement its policies. Under President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the Government will shortly implement a massive development process named "Yodha Sanwardana Sangrama" while taking stern legal action to curb bribery and corruption from grassroots level to the top using this clear people's mandate, Minister Samaraweera told a media briefing at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo. The Government will bring development to village level through this program stagnated during the past two years of the UNF regime. "Those in Parliament as well as the public should cooperate with this people's Government," Samaraweera said. The Minister said people have placed their utmost confidence in the Government at the Provincial Council election giving a one million majority to the UPFA. This clearly indicates that the people have again approved UPFA policies. The UPFA also obtained nearly 760,000 majority votes at the April 2 General Election which was also a record in recent political history. Due to the complex situation created by the J.R. Jayewardene Constitution, the UNP hatched conspiracies against the UPFA Government without respecting the people's mandate. The UNP through its media mafia attempted to mislead the public saying the Government has not fulfilled its pledges given to the people, the Minister said. He said the Government has the majority in Parliament with 106 seats. But the UNP has only 85 seats. However, the UNP without accepting this reality, implied that they have a majority in Parliament by forming a Joint Opposition. The Provincial Council Election clearly shows who has the majority. The Minister said: "Except the 2001 General Election won by chance, Ranil Wickremesinghe is the only party leader in the world who has been defeated 13 times. This may be a Guinness record. Therefore he should immediately resign from his post allowing the formation of a people-friendly leadership in the UNP who can closely work with the Government." The Minister said the UNF Government through its 100 days program cheated the people giving them various false pledges. The UPFA Government during these three months has fulfilled a number of pledges in its manifesto. The Government has already given the fertiliser subsidy to the farmers while formulating a program for graduate employment. The Government has already stopped the vesting of lands in foreigners while taking action to vest Government lands taken over by UNP politicians. The Government has allocated funds for school uniform material. He said the Government also halted the UNF's attempt to privatise key state institutions such as the Port, CEB, State banks. "No Government has fulfilled such a large number of pledges during a short period." Meanwhile, the UNP has claimed that the Kollupitiya blast would mark a return to war. The election result has once again confirmed that the UNP could not deceive the people, the Minister said. JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa said after the April 2 General Election, the UNP launched a massive publicity campaign to create panic among public that the UPFA Government has not fulfilled its duties. To carry out this process, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed two Media Spokesmen. They divided their time and conducted press briefings daily. In addition, Wickremesinghe also appointed a National Organiser. "Various futile attempts were made by the UNP to win even the Central Provincial Council. The UPFA Government achieved this victory amidst these various attempts. The UNP, trying to cover the nakedness of their defeat, points out the nakedness of others and says the vote percentage has decreased. However, the people have completely rejected the UNP conspiracies," he said. UPFA General Secretary, Power and Energy Minister Susil Premajayanth said as a whole 55.5 per cent of voters have cast their ballot at the Provincial Council election. In certain areas in the Southern Province such as Matara and Hambantota, this percentage had increased to 62 per cent and 63 per cent. The UPFA won only two electorates in Badulla district at the April 2 General Election. At this Provincial Council election, the UPFA won all electorates including the Haputale electorate represented by Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara. The UNP obtained 54,000 majority votes from Colombo district at the April 2 General Election. This time, the UPFA has won the Colombo district too. "We tell the UNP who cannot cover up the nakedness of its defeat and several private media institutions biased towards the UNP that the people have given a clear mandate to the UPFA to continue its progressive programs," he stressed. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
