False allegations by West-PNM Chairman

H.M. ABEYSINGHE, Kuliyapitiya group correspondent

After Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power the Western powers having realised that they would find it difficult to achieve their target, alleged that his Government violates human rights, denies media freedom, violates democratic rights of the people and Sri Lanka is a failed state.

All those are false allegations, the Chairman Patriotic National Movement (PNM) Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara said.

He was addressing the seminar on "Western Powers and fate of Sri Lanka" held in Pannala Community Hall.

Dr. Amarasekara added, the target of the Western Powers is the division of this country. The existing terrorism in the country is only the symptons, the real disease is separatism. Prabhakaran is only a cat's paw of the Western powers. We must find out why such great powers want to divide this small country. We must go back to the Colonial era to understand that.

He said, prior to World War 11, the lifestyle of the Imperialists was based on the resources exploited from the Colonies. After the war India won independence through their National Liberation Movement.

When India was liberated there was no need for the British to keep Sri Lanka under their power. They granted freedom to us also. Our independence was not a result of a national liberation struggle. However after the independence the British proceeded with their exploitation of our resources.

Dr. Amarasekera said the change of 1956 was a result of an uprising of national liberation movement headed by five great powers the Buddhist Clergy, Indigenous Medical Practitioners, Sinhala Teachers, Cultivators and Labourers (Sangha, Veda, Guru, Govi, Kamkaru).

The group upheld a cultural renaissance. That was a landmark in the history since that paved the way for introducing a national economy.

He said in 1977 everything turned upside down. Introduction of the open economy was the reintroduction of the exploitation of the Western powers. By the time the armed uprising in the North and East emerged under the pretext of an ethnic issue.

There is no ethnic crisis whatsoever in this country, it is only a creation of Westerners. They invaded the country in the guise of NGOs.

They support the terrorists calling them a liberation movement. Their motive is to divide the country and give the ruling powers of North and East to LTTE so that they would be able to keep on exploiting the natural resources there without a hindrance. The explorations had proved that there is fuel in Mannar Bay. If the North and East are under the ruling power of the LTTE such resources too could be exploited.

Dr. Amarasekara said, the attempt of dividing the country failed following Mahinda Rajapaksa's ascent to power. He functions according to an indigenous agenda. They make false allegations against his Government.

This is the most suitable period to launch the national liberation struggle as the powers of the neocolonisation is declining today. India and China in Asia, Latin American countries, African countries and the Middle East are rising against the Western powers.

We also should absorb into that struggle and get the benefit of that great opportunity.

The National Organiser of PNM Senaratna Silva, Kurunegala District Secretary of PNM Dhanasiri Jayakody and Committee Member Dr. Wasantha Bandara also spoke.