UPFA, NFF enter into alliance
Rohan MATHES
"This
alliance is formed at a watershed moment in our history,
when our motherland is emerging victorious over the scourge
of ruthless terrorism and separatism which has plagued the
country for several decades"
"All patriotic citizens must
rally round and support the Government in its bid to make
year 2009 the year of the gallant 'war heroes', instead of
aiding the conspiracies of the reactionary forces and
Velupillai Prabhakaran" |
A historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United
People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and the National Freedom Front (NFF)
was signed at a simple ceremony at Temple Trees yesterday.
The MoU was inked by UPFA General Secretary Minister Susil
Premjayantha and NFF General Secretary Nandana Gunatilaka, amidst an
august gathering of party stalwarts, members, friends and well-wishers
of both parties, to the chanting of seth pirith.
Addressing the ceremony, SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena
underscored the importance of forming the broadbased alliance, at a time
the country was confronting daunting and multi-faceted challenges and
conspiracies of both local and international reactionary forces.
"This alliance is formed at a watershed moment in our history, when
our motherland is emerging victorious over the scourge of ruthless
terrorism and separatism which has plagued it for several decades. Our
Government under the strong and able leadership of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa has integrated a fragmented country and is moving on the path
to prosperity. Nonetheless, there is more work ahead of us to be
accomplished," Minister Sirisena noted.
He was of the view that following the resounding victory of President
Rajapaksa at the 2005 Presidential election, the Government relied much
on the JVP and regarded them as a tower of strength and inspiration to
the Government. Nevertheless, the estranged relationship and their
eventual divorce was indeed a formidable loss to the Government, he
lamented.
"This separation of the JVP was a great blunder which gave rise to an
expanded jumbo Cabinet. This need would never have arisen if the JVP
stood with us.
When the JVP left us, enlarging the Cabinet was inevitable, to
continue a stable Government," he said.
Minister Sirisena warned that both local and international
reactionary forces were behind diverse conspiracies to topple the
Government, jeopardise and disrupt its development and called for
vigilance.
NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa recalled as a pioneer who worked for the
victory of President Rajapaksa at the last Presidential election, he was
happy that of the 12 proposals forwarded at the last Presidential
election under the Mahinda Chintanaya, at least six of the national
issues have already been implemented
"Our broad-based alliance had over-whelmingly succeeded in unifying
our fragmented motherland and protect its unitary character.
"We were able to annul the PTOMS agreement, the so-called Ceasefire
Agreement (CFA) and reject the facilitator role played by the
Norwegians," Weerawansa said.
He urged all the patriotic citizens to rally round and support the
Government in its bid to make year 2009 the year of the gallant 'war
heroes', instead of aiding the conspiracies of the reactionary forces
and Velupillai Prabhakaran. |