Dr N M Perera never misguided the public - Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa

Dehiowita Spl. Corr.

The late Dr N M Perera, was an honest leader who never misguided the public,Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa unveiling the statue of Dr. N.M. Perera at Yatiyantota on Tuesday.

The Speaker, unveiled the statue of Dr. N.M. Perera erected at the K. Vincent Perera sports ground during a public meeting in Yatiyantota on Thursday morning.

He said in his speech: " Dr. N.M. Perera was a leader who never uttered any lies to misguide the public.

He represented the Ruwanwella electorate for nearly 40 years, which bore testimony to how much he was loved and respected by the people in the Thunkorale.

"He advocated a policy of equal rights to all races, in all spheres of administration. The terrorist problem would not have risen if his policies had been implemented."

Professor Tissa Vitharana, Deputy Minister H.R. Mithrapala, Kegalle District MP Y.G. Padmasiri, Provincial Councillors , Pradeshiya Sabha Chairmen and members attended the ceremony.

Professor Tissa Vitharana said: " Dr. N.M. Perera was not only a politician, but a universally recognised statesman.

"He fought for freedom and wanted the country to be totally self-sufficient.

"His food production drive under Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, if continued, would have saved the country from foreign debts.

"After the Suriya Mal Viyaparaya, he was jailed with his colleagues, but escaped to India where he joined with leaders like Mahathma Ghandi and Nehru and fought for the country's freedom.

" He wanted equal rights for the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims, and saw the danger of the one language concept.

"He could have become the prime minister, had he accepted the Sinhala Only policy advocated by the Pancha Maha Balawegaya in 1956. But he vehemently opposed, predicting the dangerous outcome.

"What happened later is history".