JVP threatens to resign tonight

by Gamini Bandaranayake and D.B. Elkaduwa

Parliamentarians, party leaders and senior members of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna yesterday held a public demonstration and rally in Colombo in protest of the proposed Joint Mechanism.

The protestors walked from the Colombo Campbell Park through Deans Road, Maradana before they reached Liptons Circus opposite the Colombo Town Hall where they held the protest rally.

JVP Secretary General Tylvin Silva said that there was more time for the progressive intellectuals including the Prime Minister to protect the United People's Freedom Alliance Government from being disbanded.

Tylvin Silva further stressed that if the proposed mechanism was not rolled up by midnight tonight (June 15) that will be the end of the Freedom Alliance Government. The Protest demonstration marched behind a massive banner carrying the slogan "Roll up the Joint Mechanism" started its journey from Campbell Park, Colombo, with party stalwarts including Wimal Weerawansa, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, K.D. Lalkantha, Chandrasiri Wijesinghe, Vijitha Herath and Nandana Gunatilleke and reached the Liptons Circus via Deans Road Maradana.

He further said that the JVP was not concerned who committed the offence, but it was again this crime and that this very same move came up sometime ago but was defeated by the JVP is resurfacing again. The dream of Ranil Wickremesinghe will not be allowed to materialize but instead we will get the support of the progressive UNP supporters to defeat this betrayal, he said.

We are giving time to the President till 12 midnight today to review her decision and if she fails to make up her mind, there will not be a Freedom Alliance Government by the June 16. If anybody attempts to sign the pact in the absence of a Government, we will oppose that situation, he said.

JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa MP said that they did not wish to shoulder the crime which is to be committed by signing the document for the Tsunami Relief Council. "Minister D.M. Jayarathne has said that eight JVP MPs would support. We do not know from where he will get them.

We have decided to leave the Government by June 15th midnight. If by that time no action is taken to withdraw the proposal, the JVP will leave by June 16th. This is not the final Alliance that the JVP has formed, but we will come with a broader Alliance and are committed to do that, he added.