Do not obstruct the President

Jeyaraj appeals to Chandrika:

Nadira Gunatilleke and Manjula Fernando

COLOMBO: Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle yesterday made an appeal to former President Chandrika Kumaratunga not to pose difficulties and undermine the efforts of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a leader who has sprung from the ordinary masses to spearhead the SLFP.

He also appealed to her not to make statements that would be beneficial to the UNP or the LTTE and also to desist from action that would cause damage to her own party, the SLFP.

“Today, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party is led by a person who has come from the ordinary people and he has never let down the party . He had never left the SLFP and all the senior SLFPers who held posts during former President’s time still continue in the same posts today without any change, Fernandopulle said, addressing the media at the Government Information Department Auditorium.

He said he is the only person who received a promotion within the party and all the others hold the same posts which they held under the former President.

“I appeal to former President Kumaratunga not to cause trouble to this leader who came from the ordinary people to lead the party and also not to make statements that will be advantageous to the LTTE and the UNP. He appealed to her not to make any statements that would damage the SLFP.

Minister Fernandopulle said that the SLFP cannot approve the discussion held between the former President and the Opposition Leader on any grounds because the Opposition Leader did not allow her child to study at Royal College and harassed her in every possible way when she headed the Cabinet under the UNP Government.

“She says the party is not following democracy. But it holds all meetings and listen to the voices of all including the Pradeshiya Sabha members. It is led by a person who has come from an ordinary background and who recognises the pulse of the common man. The official newspaper and the official website of the SLFP was launched and the party will be strengthened and will move forward with young members,” he said.

“She says that she did not attended the SLFP anniversary held recently because she did not want to listen to J.R.P. Suriyapperuma’s lecture. But we would like to ask her why only now (under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s) she suddenly remembers that Mr. Suriyapperuma planned to remove the stone blocks of the Bandaranaike Memorial.

“Why did she not remember it during her regime and during her mother’s regime when Mr. Suriyapperuma was allowed to contest on the SLFP ticket from Minuwangoda. We are happy to see that the SLFPers taken over and rule Sirikotha.

He challenged the UNP to conduct Janarala protests every Friday.

Commenting on the recent meeting between the Opposition Leader and the former President, Minister Fernandopulle said that during this secret meeting the Opposition Leader had used a special mobile phone borrowed from one of his close friends and used it with a special SIM card which was destroyed by him soon after the meeting.

Responding to a question by a journalist Minister Fernandopulle said that there was a likelihood that the mobile phone was connected to third person/party during the meeting. All the journalists had been thrown out before this meeting was held.

“We would like to question as to what was discussed during this secret meeting and why all the media were asked to leave. We would like to know why they hide the things discussed at this meeting from the public,” Minister added.

Minister Fernandopulle also asked if MP Ravi Karunanayake recovered the reel that was inside the camera which was hidden in the handbag of the former President. He also questioned as to what happened to his allegations in connection with the AirLanka and Shell Gas deals, the Golf course issue etc.

Power and Energy Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage noted that a new movement had emerged which wants to save the SLFP. But unfortunately this group has joined hands with the UNP to save the SLFP which destroyed SLFPers several times in history.

He said that the UNP killed SLFPers and destroyed their properties in the past. It launched a conspiracy in 1962 and toppled the Government in 1964.

In 1977, the UNP gave one weeks leave to the Police Department after winning the election in order to kill the SLFPers and set fire to their homes. In 2001, under the regime of the Opposition Leader over 1000 SLFPers were killed just after the election and people like General Anuruddha Ratwatte were put behind bars.

At the same time it treated former President Kumaratunga in a very humiliating manner. “We ask her whether she is going to save the SLFP by joining with such people. We very clearly understand what is really going on and what they are trying to do,” he added.

Some people have forgotten what had happened during the time of former Presidents J. R. Jayewardene and R. Premadasa because it was long ago but no one can forget what happened during the present Opposition Leader’s tenure in 2001.