- Future SJB Govt. will pursue new IMF pact based on SL friendly econ prog.: Sajith
- MR queries ‘anarchic’ tendencies of current TU leaders
Leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP), Opposition Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (1) claimed that the JVP-led NPP will make a better and sustainable economy with the help of the working class people instead of depending on international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB) and others as former and current leaders had done for 75 years.
He said this while addressing the JVP May Day rally held yesterday at the Viharamaha Devi Park, Colombo, with the participation of thousands of its supporters.
“Even though the Government pretends that they are following a new path to recover from the prevailing economic crisis, they are still following the same old path which they have been using for the past 75 years. Nothing has changed. What they are doing now is borrowing money from international organisations and selling national assets when they are unable to pay them back. Is this a new plan for us? We believe in a national mechanism that we can use with the help of all Sri Lankans. We have everything here to be a sustainable country. But, unfortunately, no leader who ruled this country has understood the value of those resources. What they did is to sell them all. The best example is the State owned factories we had in the 1970s. That is why the JVP is standing against this economic victimisation which is the new face of imperialism,” he claimed.
He also said that everyone should get together to get this country onto a new path, by defeating the current ruling class. He noted that ordinary people should get the power to make decisions that are suitable for this country.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa yesterday said that a new IMF agreement with a domestic friendly economic programme will be implemented under a SJB Government which is to be formed in the future. Speaking at the SJB May Day rally held at the A.E. Gunasinghe Stadium yesterday, he also said that the SJB is more concerned about working people than any other political party in Sri Lanka.
“We don’t do politics for positions. We do politics to develop this country. That is why the SJB has created a special programme to develop this country. Our aim is to create a smart citizen who fits with the new world. Also, we need to modernise welfare services such as education and health care. The SJB wants to make an economically strong country and we have the best team that is suited for this task. We always make decisions in a way that is not harmful to the public. We promise to create a better environment by creating a secure country for every Sri Lankan,” he claimed.
Speaking at the May Day celebration organised by the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) held at the Campbell Park yesterday, SLPP Leader and former President and incumbent Government Parliamentarian Mahinda Rajapaksa said that former trade union (TU) leaders never wanted to lead this country to anarchy even though they struggled to win the workers' rights. He also said that no one can destroy the SLPP and that they will be stronger when they have challenges.
“Everyone thought that the SLPP will never make a comeback after the so-called “aragalaya” (the people’s movement to overthrow the Government led by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa). But, we have proved that no one can stop us by hurting us or burning our houses. As a former Labour Minister and a trade union leader, I have had enough experiences of such ups and downs. We led the working class every tough time. I was the first Labour Minister to establish a proper welfare programme called the Shrama Wasana for the working people. Therefore, I must say this. Trade union leaders like Gunasinghe, Dr. N.M. Perera, Dr. Colvin R. de Silva, and Philip Gunawardena never exploited the workers’ struggles for political purposes. They never wanted this country to be anarchic. But, what is happening now?,“ he queried.