People have defeated conspirators - Dullas

Lakshmi DE SILVA

Several attempts were made to oust President Mahinda Rajapaksa and to topple the Government during the past five years with the connivance of certain National and International Forces.

But the people of this country had given a clear mandate now.

At least now the conspirators should stop their covert moves.

We request them not to obstruct the progress of the Government, UPFA spokesman Dullas Alahapperuma said.

Addressing the UPFA press conference after the election victory at the Mahaweli Centre Colombo yesterday he said there were identified and unidentified conspiracies.

There were attempts to buy Members of Parliament.

There were foreign conspiracies.

Yet now all the conspirators should identify the pulse of the people and allow the new Government to continue without destabilizing the country.

As usual the UNP and the JVP were giving traditional excuses and analyses for their defeat but unfortunately these parties virtually had come to the end of the road while the UPFA had increased its majority within two months from 57 to 60 percent from January 26 to April 8.

There are 46 new faces in Parliament representing the UPFA, Alahapperuma also said.

The UNP members in Moneragala had given a signal to their party leader who wanted to elect one of his favourites.

But the UNP voters had acted against his wishes to elect Ranjith Maddumabandara and Anada Kumarasiri to the new Parliament.

We urge the UNP leader and its General Secretary to act wisely rather than making foolish jokes, Alahapperuma said.

When the SLFP lost in 1977 and retained only 8 seats in Parliament we had only 30 percent.

Unfortunately the UNP this year could not even get 29 percent of the votes he said.