Govt sure of winning all polls

P. B. KIRINDENIYA Nawalapitiya group corr.

"Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, should be the leader of the UNP for ever. As long as he held that post, the Government was quite sure of winning all the elections. As such no one should try to change the leadership of the UNP," said Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Minister of Power.

Minister Mahindananda made above observations addressing an election rally held in support of two UPFA candidates, H. A. Ranasinghe and Ananda Aluthgamage contesting the Central Provincial Council election. The meeting was held at Imboolpitiya Central College Hall.

He said, "A very big thank you is due to Ranil Wickremesinghe for non-availability of party supporters to hoist at least one green flag in the Nawalapitiya area. Most of the frontline UNP supporters are now crossing over to the Government party. Not only the UNPers but also the JVPers embrace the governing party because they are totally disgusted with their leadership.

This is happening at national as well as village level. The present day people are not worried about political differences. They think of the future of the country. Their only wish is to see the end of the thirty year old civil conflict. They very strongly believe that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has the courage to wipe out terrorism from this country."

The Minister said, this is a very decisive election. Everybody has to take it very seriously. The Commander-in-Chief, the President has brought the humanitarian war almost to an end. The A-9 road has been captured by our heroic soldiers after 23 years. The entire world is watching whether the general public is hailing or approving this victory. This is an election going to be held in an era when a thirty year old war is nearing the end and the expectation of the majority, the peace is going to dawn. Therefore it is the duty of every peace loving citizen to support the Government.

Aluthgamage said that no country in the world had two parallel goals like eradicating terrorism and at the same time developing the country. Both these are happening in our country today. As such the voters have to be grateful to the Government. So let them vote in favour of the Government party and defeat the UNP.

Ariyawansa Premakumara, former Chairman, Pasbage Korale Pradeshiya Sabha, presently the opposition leader who crossed over to the UPFA stated that he held the chairmanship for a period of 16 years. He had joined the UNP in the year 1962 when the membership fee was Rs. 2. He had a long history of 45 years as a UNP politicians. The UNP leadership never wished to see his progress. They always tried to destroy his forward march.

He said the country is in a very dangerous position. At this moment we can't turn our back to the Government. There should be an undivided country either to the UNP or to the SLFP to govern. So it is high time for us to support the existing government.

H. A. Ranasinghe, Ananda Aluthgamage, O. G. Rohana Bandara and Danister Silva also spoke.