SLFP marks 59th anniversary on Sept 2

Nadira Gunatilleke

The SLFP will celebrate its 59th anniversary on September 2 at 9.30 a.m. at Temple Trees under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s patronage, Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha said. All political parties in the alliance, SLFP MPs, Provincial Council members, members attached to SLFP organizations, trade unions and others will participate, the Minister told a press briefing at the SLFP Headquarters, Colombo yesterday.

According to Minister Premajayantha, the Government is doing well and the Newsweek magazine named Sri Lanka as the world’s 66th best country to live.

Sri Lanka is on the top in the region. Sri Lanka’s infant mortality rate is nine per 1,000 births and the average life expectancy is 74 years, he said.

Sri Lanka records the region’s best health indicators. This year 313,000 students sat for the year five scholarship examination with North and East students. Sri Lanka’s per capita income has gone up from US $ 1,100 to US $ 2,000 within four years. It is planned to increase it to US $ 4000 next year. Sri Lanka also has the world’s second best share market, the Minister said.

The SLFP is in its strongest position in history under the President Rajapaksa’s leadership. The UNP which is in its weakest position, has started to following its old tactics again to mislead the public to grab power, Premajayantha said.

The UNP Deputy Leader said nothing about the Government’s policy when he was with the Government. It is obvious that it is the traditional way of attracting people towards the UNP when the party face numerous problems, the Minister said.

The UNP Deputy Leader had accepted his incompatibility and the party’s inability. The Opposition is aware that President Rajapaksa is in a strong position and the Government has a very clear majority in Parliament, Premajayantha said.

Therefore the UNP is trying to grab power somehow. The UNP says that it can obtain GSP plus because they will definitely accept all 15 conditions laid down by the EU and are willing to trade in the country’s independence.

Sri Lanka did well before 2004 even without GSP plus, the Minister said.

Responding to a question, Minister Premajayantha said the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation will not increase the price of fuel and the corporation can afford it. IOC is free to do as they wish but cannot dictate to the corporation because the agreement ended in 2008, he said.