Wijeyadasa says will remain in SLFP

Uditha Kumarasinghe, sandasen Marasinghe and Chaminda Perera

UPFA National list MP and COPE Chairman Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe yesterday crossed over to the Opposition and sat as a backbencher in the Opposition. Rajapakshe making a special statement in Parliament said he will continue to be in the SLFP.

He said he took this decision not to topple the Government or conspire against it.

Rajapakshe put forward seven proposals to vote in favour of the Budget. “If the Government accepts these proposals, I

 request the UNP, JVP and the TNA also to vote in favour of the Appropriation Bills,” he said.

After the MP concluded his speech, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said the UNP was willing to discuss these proposals put forward by Rajapakshe with the Government.

Among the seven proposals put forward include to remove the two Ministers from their Ministerial portfolios who have been subjected to malpractices according to the recommendations of the first COPE report.

The MP also proposed to reduce the number of Ministers to 30 and Deputy Ministers to 30. Rajapakshe said the Government should understand these are not proposals just put forward by him. These are proposals put forward by the people of the country.

He said: “When we see the number of malpractices taking place today, how can we face the people? The country is heading towards destruction day by day due to corrupt politicians and Government officials.”

He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa knows how he contributed to the victory of the SLFP from the 1981 referendum upto the 2005 Presidential Election.

“As the organiser of the Maharagama electorate, I was able to get the highest percentage of votes,” he said.

Rajapakshe said 48 MPs sent to the Opposition by the people are now in the Government enjoying all perks.

All these MPs who crossed over to the Government only want ministerial portfolios and other perks, he said.

“In order to turn the 108 minority Government elected in 2004 into a majority Government, I had to appear for 10 cases in the Supreme Court. I played the major role to turn the 108 minority Government into a 122 majority Government,” he said.

“I am not disappointed on President Rajapaksa being elected as the President.

The people will not achieve any prosperity due to these policies launched by the Government without any vision. Therefore, I have a responsibility to direct the Government on the proper path.

I can’t fulfill this by seating in the Government side. I firmly believe, I can fulfill this by seating in the Opposition,” he said. “If somebody sees the move taken by me as a conspiracy to topple the Government, it may be due to the lack of his political maturity. I honestly say, I have no hatred towards the President or any Government MP.”

According to Rajapakshe, Rs. 390 million allocated for the President in 2004 has been increased to Rs. 5757.8 million in 2008.

Compared with 2004, this is a 1,491 per cent increase on allocations made to the President for 2008.

The total amount of money allocated to entire Parliament for 2008 is Rs. 1565.8 million. Therefore, over 367 per cent of money has been allocated to the President than the money allocated to Parliament.”

He said he took this decision with the intention of turning the Government into a people’s friendly Government by changing its present undemocratic policies.

“If I sit in the Opposition, I will always appear to safeguard the rights of all SLFPers. I am ready to face any challenge to safeguard their rights.”