President tells SLFPers :

No room in the party for the corrupt

Chaminda PERERA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said the government is prepared to remove any individual who is corrupt, irrespective of their status, if corruption can be proved with evidence. President Rajapaksa insisted that the SLFP will not protect the corrupt. He said anyone can make complaints to the Commission of Bribery or Corruption over corruption and corrupt individuals and the Government will never meddle with its affairs.

The President was addressing SLFP supporters at grass roots level at a meeting to strengthen the party, at Temple Trees.

SLFP members representing all Grama Niladhari Divisions participated at this meeting.

He said that the SLFP can not remove each and everyone from the party. “The party is not committed to protect those involved in malpractice. No one can expect this sort of help from the party,” he said.

All these members received appointment letters as members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party on this occasion. President Mahinda Rajapaksa also presented appointment letters to a group of selected SLFP members

The President added that the SLFP members should have a responsibility of protecting the party. Commenting on various rumours propagated by the certain elements against the party leaders and Ministers, President said that the Party should have the ability to face this malicious campaign.

He said the United National Party has unleashed a group of goons to fabricate lies involving the President and the Ministers.

The President recollected how the political life of former Deputy Minister B.Y. Thudawe was devastated by the UNP by fabricating lies at the 1977 General election.

The Government and the SLFP should be able to face this malicious campaign hatched by these liars. The President added that he has experience in facing this type of campaigns.

He emphasized the importance of effectively facing the malicious campaign launched by the United National Party in connivance with the JVP.

“It was not a difficult task as the people have trust in us,” he said.

“Founder of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Former Prime Minister SWRD Bandarnaike laid a strong foundation for the party with a coalition government in 1956.

He said that United Front Government led by Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike protected and strengthened the party,” the President said.

He said the SLFP had only 50 Parliamentarians when assumed office in 2005.

The President added that the SLFP was converted into a formidable political force in the country and 127 members of the legislature represent the party now.

“The SLFP elected the government with two thirds majority under the proportional electoral system”, he said

The President added that the SLFP led government was able to liberate the country which was on the verge of being divided and the SLFPers can be happy for having shouldered this national task.

He said that the Government united the country and the people are living in peace and harmony now.

The Government succeeded in bring dividends of development to the villages. The villages were provided electricity, pipe borne water and the fertilizer subsidy.“No village can be found where roads were not developed,” he said.

“The Government has uplifted infrastructure facilities. Roads have been developed and hospitals around the country were upgraded by the government,” he said.

The President stressed the importance of conserving electricity. He said that some people were criticising the government when electricity tariffs are increased but they do not have any idea about electricity conservation.