We must welcome Opposition voters who join us - SPC Chief Minister

D. C. de Silva - Kahawa special correspondent

The UNP admitting the massive defeat at the forthcoming PC elections in the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provinces, is attempting to sling mud at the Government, said Southern Province Chief Minister (CM) Shan Wijayalal de Silva on Saturday August at Ambalangoda.

He was addressing the Ambalangoda SLFP central organisation which met at his Polwatta residence on Saturday.

The meeting was meant to educate party activists on the current political situation in the country, and on the countrywide ongoing development including Ambalangoda under 'Mahinda Chintanaya' concept.

He said "We are now holding PC elections for Sabaragamuwa and the NCP and will surely win both elections."

The CM said "current PC elections are held after the victory gained at the Eastern Province and many MPs resigned from Parliament also contested that elections, and they were well-known opposition politicians, but they all failed in their attempts to catch power in the East."

He said the "Government's Eastern victory was not a miracle, and it was only an occasion when the reality became true."

The CM said "People in the East were highly satisfied with the way how the Government hit hard at the brutal LTTE terrorists who robbed their beloved children into LTTE by force."

He said "the Easterners were also happy with the Government's role to develop the East while engaged in the conflict."

The CM said "the Easterners who were under LTTE pressure for decades were liberated by the Government, was why the Government won the East.

" The Eastern election victory even under such circumstances were undermined by the UNP leader. He said "the UNP having no contenders for the NCP and Sabaragamuwa PC polls had to go in search of candidates from other areas," was a farce.

He said, Ranil's wish is to become the Opposition Leader forever, and he would no doubt set a world record for becoming a 'life time Opposition Leader'.

"A good number of UNP MPs would surely join the Government after present PC polls," the CM predicted. He said, "We have nothing to say about the JVP campaign any more. They would surely understand reality and their plight at the next general election."

The JVP dissident group is headed by MP Wimal Weerawansa, and the JVPs attempt to intimidate them, is a farce," the CM said.

"The SLFP and the JVP did not contest the 1988 PC elections, therefore it became a one-horse race for the UNP and it was the final political victory for the UNP," the CM said. " The SLFP had won elections with and without the JVP ," the CM said.

"The JVP won the Tissamaharama Provincial Council, but the land portion of the Tissa PS is only 1/8 of the Tissamaharama electorate," the CM pointed out. The CM said people believe the ongoing development programmes of the Government as most vital and they would never vote with the opposition.

He said, "We must welcome all opposition voters who join us." The CM said, "Great progress in the social and development spheres gained under UPFA Governments are well known and experienced by the people."

The CM said, "We must win power at the coming elections too, and strengthen village level organising activities.

Sarath Liyanarachchy, the Secretary of the Ambalangoda SLFP Central Organisation made the vote of thanks.