'Chavez is the best example of an anti-imperialist'

Atapattu BANDARA

"Hugo Chavez is a fighter for the people and a social example for any leader who fights for the people, Venezuela's Ambassador to Sri Lanka and India Milena Santana Ramras said.

She was addressing a book launch at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute yesterday. The English book, "Understanding the Venezuelan Revolution" was translated into Sinhala as "Therum Ganimu Venisula Viplawaya" by a veteran author and educationist, Leelananada Gamachchi.

The first copy was presented to Engineering, Construction, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa by the author.

The ambassador said Chavez is a great revolutionary and a challenge to imperialism. He changed Venezuela into a people's country.

The Cuban ambassador to Sri Lanka Nirsa Castro Guevara addressing the ceremony said the philosophy of Chavez is to fight for the people.

The imperialists had almost succeeded in toppling Chavez but with the involvement of Cuba the people united with Chavez and defeated the imperialist attempt, she said.

Minister Wimal Weerawansa making the keynote address said Latin American countries, though geographically far, have a close relationship with South Asia.

"We Sri Lankans engage in religious activities to invoke blessings on Hugo Chavez for a speed recovery as he is a leader with a backbone who never bent down to imperialism. We need leaders in the calibre of Chavez. He is the best example to the world that no imperialist can interfere with others' sovereignty as long as the people of the country are with its leaders.

"Now the imperialistic agents' role has been taken over by Sarath Fonseka and he acts to their tune. He expressed views from time to time to put the government in trouble and carry out the imperialists' suggestions. "As the Oppostion Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is no longer powerful, the imperialists together with media personnel have been active in Sri Lanka to influence the government.