Mangala: A victory for the progressive forces

PORTS and Aviation Minister and Chairman SLFP Information and Media Unit Mangala Samaraweera said yesterday that July 28 will be a day which will go down in the history of the SLFP in letters of gold.

This is because President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga as leader of the SLFP announced the people's leadership which will take the country to the next era thereby destroying all expectations held by reactionary forces which hoped for a division and crisis in the SLFP and defeating the hollow propaganda and mud slinging campaigns carried out by the media subservient to them, he said in a news release.

All progressive masses will honour the President for guiding and giving the opportunity for a political leadership born from the common masses, he said.

The Minister's statement: "It will guide the country's future on the occasion of the 54th anniversary of the SLFP formed by late Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike by turning this country's colonial history upside down.

On a proposal by the President the Central Committee of the SLFP unanimously decided to put forward Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse as the Presidential Candidate of the SLFP at the Presidential Election due to be held in 2006 and Minister Anura Bandaranaike as the Prime Ministerial candidate. By this she has offered guidance to our party to march forward with a new vigour.

During Sri Lanka's recent history internal crises and infighting had been common place during the selection of state leaders.

The manner in which J. R. Jayawardene conspired to become the UNP Presidential Candidate for the third time, how Premadasa defeated that conspiracy and grabbed the candidacy, the free for all between two factions opposite Sirikotha during the clash between Gamini Dissanayake and Ranil Wickremesinghe for the selection of that party's Presidential Candidate in 1994, the manner in which Ranil Wickremesinghe later tried to defeat Gamini Dissanayake by using the media faithful to his family and the internal crises which erupted during the selection of late Mr. Kobbekkaduwa as the SLFP Presidential Candidate are some examples for this.

Even President Kumaratunga has had to face such unsavoury experiences on many occasions. She won the Prime Ministerial candidacy after facing various obstructions within the party with determination.

But this time the honour and credit is due to our party leader Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga for guiding the party to a unanimous decision in selecting the party's Presidential candidate without any hesitation controversy or doubt.

The party has got a great impetus by the naming of the Presidential candidate by herself. By this the President has once again shown that she loved and treasured the country more than clinging on to power.

The fact that our party was divided into various factions fighting with each other and progressive forces were in a downhearted and neglected state at the time Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga obtained SLFP membership in 1991 cannot be hidden from people who knew history.

The political leadership given by her during the last 14 years to unite those factions and lead the party into victory and build an era of the common masses by uniting all progressive forces should be appreciated by all progressive sections. They should also appreciate the leadership given to win 12 elections during those 14 years.

During President Kumaratunga's period of rule, State terror was completely wiped out and torture chambers like that of Batalanda relegated to history. By coming forward to give equal status to all communities fatigued by communalism she was able to build hope and confidence in peace.

The actions she took in this respect have been lauded by the international community. She has to revive the image and the international prestige of our country which had been sidelined as a nation of man-eaters.

The contribution received from her to revive a broken down economy and forge planned development in the country was immense.

President Kumaratunga has become the seniormost stateswoman in the country by winning democratic elections and longest serving leader of the country.

At a time when her leadership skills have developed to the optimism, international image and stature grown to immense heights and the country needed her leadership most, it is most regrettable that she has to stand down in another year when one thinks about the country's future.

She has displayed her political maturity by naming Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse the most suitable person in the party as the Presidential Candidate and Minister Anura Bandaranaike as the Prime Ministerial Candidate in advance to carry forward the party policies implemented by her courageously facing up to the obstructions placed against contesting another Presidential election under the J. R. Constitution.

Compared with the manner in which late J. R. Jayewardene, the architect of this obnoxious Constitution conspired against his enemies within the party to contest the Presidential election for the third time the action taken by our party leader will be invincible in the political sense.

The candidature of Bandaranaike, the son of the late founder of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party which led the anti-imperialist struggle and the candidature of Mahinda Rajapakse, the son of the late pioneer of the same cause are fateful blessings for this country for both of them are now afforded the opportunity to face the many challenges in harmony.

The nomination of Prime Minister Rajapakse who hails from a progressive and aggressive political party and who has over 30 years of political experience to his credit, is a tribute to the entire progressive forces and a special honour paid to the people of the Ruhuna.

The service to the people and the society throughout his political career of three decades is enormous.

His leadership in common struggles had been always in chorus with the people's voice. His performance as a minister had been praiseworthy.

He sponsored the cause of people's rights true to his conscience under the guidance of President Kumaratunga. He has won the confidence of all ethnic groups as a leader capable of steering the country forward on a correct political vision through the ensuing decade. That is a great victory to our credit.

Furthermore, the nomination of Minister Bandaranaike, the son of late founder of Sri Lanka Freedom Party, as the candidate for Premiership is a tribute to the Bandaranaike clan which has won the accolade of a majority of the citizenry of Sri Lanka.

The historical task undertaken by him as the Opposition Leader at a time the SLFP was at a low ebb cannot be forgotten.

His performances as the Speaker of the House and as a Minister were excellent.

The array of two sons of two gallant stalwarts of the anti- imperialist struggle to face the future challenges marks the beginning of a new era.

Today, amidst applause of the members of the SLFP Central Executive Committee, President Kumaratunga who has won National and International acclaim for the SLFP and who has won 12 successive elections during the past 14 years, took upon herself the onus of campaigning the Presidential candidature of Prime Minister Rajapakse. This unity is a good omen for our definite victory.

Equally important is the decision of the Central Executive Committee today to appoint a sub-committee to amend the SLFP Constitution. At the earnest request of Prime Minister Rajapakse, President Kumaratunga consented to continue as the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party further.

This is a great victory for the progressive people.

In reciprocation of the President Kumaratunga's flexibility to accept leadership, the sub-committee will handle the task of amending the SLFP Constitution to enhance the dignity and powers and functions of the party leader.

Under the party leadership of President Kumaratunga who is enriched with a longstanding political experience and with the blessings of a new-elect President and a new elect Prime Minister we can rest assured of a better tomorrow free of many challenges that we confront today.

The reactionary forces and allied media that anticipated a rift in the SLFP on the question of nominating a Presidential candidate are frustrated today.

The entire progressive camp is now inspired by a victorious spirit. The optimistic rays of a better tomorrow is in sight. Some sections of the UNP who abhor Ranil Wickremesinghe's leadership has manifested their choice of Mahinda Rajapakse as the Presidential candidate.

They have already expressed their consensus to share the victory of the chosen Presidential candidate of the SLFP. This will be the 13th definite defeat of the Opposition Leader.

Today begins the non-stop forward march of a new political journey.

We earnestly urge all progressive forces to shed all manner of differences and join hands with us in unity to work for the triumph of the country and its people."