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Mahinda says ‘good response’ to SLPP’s comeback rally series

28 Oct 2022

Claiming that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has received a “good response” from the people during its “Ekwa Negitimu” (Let’s Rise Together) rallies held in Kalutara and Nawalapitiya earlier, and in Puttalam yesterday (27), SLPP Leader MP Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the SLPP will not only rise again, but also formulate the programme to rebuild the country by overcoming the prevailing crisis. The third of the SLPP’s “Let’s Rise Together” series of rallies, which started in Kalutara recently, was held yesterday in Arachchikattuwa in Puttalam. The rally, which started at around 9:30 a.m. and was attended by Rajapaksa and several other SLPP MPs, was organised by State Minister of Water Supply Sanath Nishantha Perera. Addressing the rally, Rajapaksa said: “We started this rally in Kalutara, went to Nawalapitiya, and then came to Arachchikattuwa today. We received strong responses from the people in all these places. Also, your commitment to our future programme should be appreciated. You all know that although some parties level various allegations, we have never made wrong decisions for this country, and that we will never take such decisions. No one can call you guilty. Some insult us, but they do so even without knowing the extent of such matters.” Noting that the people have an understanding of the economic changes that have taken place with the Covid-19 pandemic, he said that the then-Government had given priority to save the people's lives by importing Covid-19 vaccines. However, he said, the economic challenges that emerged following the Covid-19 pandemic are still a big challenge for all, and that some parties are misusing the people's pressure caused by such challenges for their own purposes.  “Some are trying to incite the people, but when they are asked to take responsibility for the country, they say ‘no’. There is a saying that ‘madmen are worried, but doctors are not’. Our system is to build the country from where it fell and not to place it back there. It is easy to set a fire, but it is hard to put it out. We should always stand on the side of building, not on the side of burning the country. The fishing and farming community in this area had to face many difficulties due to the fuel and fertiliser issue in the recent past. People of the whole country are facing problems. However, even if not 100%, we are solving these problems one by one,” said Rajapaksa. Claiming that certain parties are raising the same questions again and stating the problem in different ways, he said that all the problems have to be faced by the team that accepts the challenge of the country without fear. He further said that the problems cannot be solved by inciting the people. Rajapaksa also said that it is the SLPP that is still capable of solving the problems and rebuilding the country, and added that that is why the SLPP states that it is even ready for an election at any time. “Certain things happen that we cannot prevent. Also, there are some things that we could not prevent because of the respect we had for democracy. However, we must remember that none of them are our losses. Let's rise together. We are confident that we will not only rise together, but will do so with the programme through which we can overcome the economic challenges that the country is facing. Therefore, let's continue this journey together for the sake of the country,” concluded Rajapaksa. Speaking during the rally, MP Namal Rajapaksa said: “Today, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) are trying to build their political platform through intimidation during the repression that started from 31 March to 9 May. When we say that Mahinda Rajapaksa is coming to Arachchikattuwa, the NPP and the SJB are planning to hold protests. It does not matter. Everyone has the right to express their opinion. However, when we do it, they call it 'repression' and 'intimidation'. When they do it, it is something that is democratic.” Claiming that the Opposition is aiming to stop Mahinda Rajapaksa from visiting villages, Namal Rajapaksa said that the former cannot be stopped from coming to villages, and engaging in politics as he is a politician who has come from a village. If anyone believes that the SLPP’s political programme can be stopped by burning down MPs’ and Ministers’ houses, threatening them and taking the lives of MPs, he said that they are wrong. He added that they will continue their political journey with the people, whatever the challenges that may come, and added: “Suppression and intimidation are the politics of the NPP and the SJB. However, we are not afraid of that at all. We will rise again as a Party. As a Government, we must make our decisions thinking of the people. If there is any omission from us, we should correct such and move on.”  


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