Namal Rajapaksa questions the dollar crisis, elections, police pressure, taxes, fertilizer shortages and government promises.
Namal Rajapaksa has demanded that the alleged US$18 billion said to be in Uganda be brought back now, amid Sri Lanka’s dollar crisis.
The National Organiser of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and Member of Parliament said the power to decide whether an election should be held lies with Parliament and the Election Commission.
He said that power does not belong to secretaries of political parties.
Rajapaksa made these remarks while addressing a public rally organised by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna in Panadura.
Speaking further, he said there is no clear talk of an election today.
He said there is not even a hint as to when the next election will be held.
Despite that, Rajapaksa said that when the SLPP goes to villages, convenes electorate committees, and visits districts, thousands of youth, men and women gather around the party.
He said this confirms the public’s distrust in the present government and renewed trust in the SLPP.
Rajapaksa said the SLPP is a party that has faced many challenges.
He said it became the most powerful political force in Sri Lanka within a very short period.
He also admitted that the party faced setbacks.
However, he said the SLPP never ran away from challenges.
He said the party did politics with the people at village level, and because of that, it was able to rise again against what he described as the anti-people government ruling the country today.
Rajapaksa accused the present administration of following incompatible political policies and cultures.
He also accused it of committing injustices against the Buddha Sasana.
He said the government came to power by spreading baseless lies and giving false hope.
Referring sarcastically to past allegations, Rajapaksa said that whenever he passes certain areas, US$18 billion is supposed to fall into his account, but it still has not arrived.
He said if that money is really coming, now is the time Sri Lanka needs it, especially when there is a dollar shortage.
“Now is when we need the 18 billion,” he said.
Rajapaksa said the government deceived the public with baseless claims and misled the younger generation with endless promises.
He said there were claims about a young girl going in a small car, and later attempts to buy a car for Rs.120,000.
Now, he said, those who made such claims deny ever saying them.
He said the same people once claimed there was a hole in Uma Oya and later said the hole had been closed.
He accused the government of deceiving young people by promising jobs for graduates, industrial zones, and solutions to youth economic problems.
He said every one of those promises has now turned into a lie.
Rajapaksa said the government has no plan.
He asked what plan the government has to face the economic crisis affecting Sri Lanka and the world.
He questioned whether the government’s answer is only to curse the previous government or claim that a hacker stole money.
He said the government must present a proper plan and work programme.
Rajapaksa criticised the Ministry of Finance, saying that when questions are raised, the minister answers without proper regard for the amounts involved.
He said the minister claims he does not care whether the rupee reaches 400 or 450 against the dollar.
He said another government figure says nothing can be stated precisely according to the economic direction.
Rajapaksa claimed that the entire government is working without understanding its own programme.
He said the final result is that the tax burden is increased on the people.
He said fuel prices are raised, electricity bills are increased, and when electricity bills rise, water bills also increase.
Ultimately, he said, all these costs must be paid by the people.
Rajapaksa said those in government have no problem, and the 159 members backing them also have no problem.
But he said every rupee misappropriated, every dollar made to disappear, and every rupee stolen from a Divisional Secretariat safe by hackers will eventually be paid for by the people.
He said that when tax upon tax is imposed on the people, the government blames the IMF.
But in the end, he said, the burden is carried by the people.
Rajapaksa said that when he visits villages, people are speaking about the cost of living.
He said the government has no plan to control it.
He said farmers are unable to obtain fertilizer for the Yala season, while there is also no plan for the Maha season.
He questioned the government’s plan to provide fertilizer.
He also asked what plan the government has to control the cost of living so people can have three nutritious meals a day.
Rajapaksa asked what the government’s plan is to build new factories, create jobs, and solve the employment problems of the country’s young people.
He said the government cannot wash its hands by blaming previous governments.
He said it must fulfill its promises and face today’s challenges.
He warned that the government cannot impose arbitrary rule by placing pressure on the people.
Rajapaksa said farmers who complain about not having fertilizer are being taken away by police.
He said those without a TIN number can now be jailed for six months.
He accused the government of cutting off support to tea farmers and maize farmers.
He said tea farmers exist in every district and asked what plan the government has to strengthen their economy.
Rajapaksa then referred to his visit to see Pilleiyan.
He asked whether there was a problem with him going to see Pilleiyan.
He said he went through the gate, not over the prison wall.
He said he did not meet him alone, but with an officer present.
He questioned whether that was the reason the authorities went to France.
Rajapaksa then claimed that in France, a fugitive with an arrest warrant had been questioned.
He said that if such a person was brought to the embassy, seated, and had a statement recorded with the ambassador present, then the law must be enforced against those police officers as well.
He said if the law is equal, and if no one is above the law as the President says, then the law must apply in that case too.
Rajapaksa said when he is asked to come for investigations, he does not hide.
He said he has no need to hide.
However, he also urged the government to protect the honour of police officers.
He said some officers who appeared on the government’s political stage may receive high positions, ambassadorships, and promotions.
But he said it is the innocent village police officer who actually enforces the law.
He urged the government not to make those officers helpless.
Rajapaksa said the honour of the police is being lost.
He also said the honour of the tri-forces is being lost.
He respectfully requested the government to protect the honour of the police and the tri-forces.
He said that in recent days, even those going to commemorate war heroes have been forced to give statements to police.
He questioned whether this was for placing flowers at a war memorial.
At the same time, he said those who commemorate terrorists can travel even without helmets and face no issue.
He referred to seeing a singer who also went wearing a helmet.
Rajapaksa said that if he and his wife had not worn helmets, he would have been in major trouble.
He said the SLPP has no problem with Tamil people.
He urged the government not to turn the issue into a problem with Tamil people.
Rajapaksa said he saw that a secretary of the government had gone to Jaffna and said there would be no election.
He said it is Parliament and the Election Commission that must decide whether an election should be held.
He questioned how a party secretary can decide when an election will be held.
He said a party secretary cannot declare that an election will or will not be held.
Rajapaksa challenged the government to hold elections.
He said if the government is afraid to hold the Western Provincial Council election and the Southern Provincial Council election, it should at least hold the Northern Provincial Council election.
He asked whether the government has the courage to hold an election in the North.
He said the people must be given their democratic right.
He said there has been no election in the North since President Mahinda Rajapaksa, even though many speak about the rights of the people of the North.
He said the people of the North must be given the right to vote.
Rajapaksa accused the government of attacking culture and insulting the Maha Sangha.
He said the government is trying to suppress the country’s culture.
He said it is trying to break the values, beliefs, and respect held by society, from small children to the elderly.
He said that may be the politics of the JVP.
He alleged that they may have no feeling for children and no respect for women.
He said the SLPP believes the Maha Sangha must be protected.
He said the Buddha Sasana and the Buddha Ratana of the country must be protected.
He also said the rights of women, children, and the elderly must be protected.
Rajapaksa said the law must be enforced equally in society, while preserving cultural respect.
He said there cannot be two laws in the country.
He warned against one law being changed when it benefits the government and moved aside when it disadvantages the government.
He said there were two laws during Prabhakaran’s time, but there cannot be two laws in the country today.
Rajapaksa urged the government not to interfere in investigations.
He said justice must be done regardless of rank or status.
He said if anyone commits wrongdoing, that person must face the law.
He said this applies whether the person is from Malimawa, a government minister, or even his own mother, father, brother, or sister.
Rajapaksa said the SLPP will work to protect the honour of the people.
He described the SLPP as a political party rooted in the soil of the country.
He said it is a political force that has worked and shown results.
He admitted that there were some lapses.
But he said the task now is to correct those lapses and mistakes and build a political force suited to the country.
Rajapaksa said some now claim the opposition is insufficient.
Addressing JVP supporters who say that, he said the SLPP has not even properly started yet.
“This is just the beginning,” he said.
He said the people who gathered in Panadura represent only the start.
Rajapaksa said the SLPP is building this people’s power and public force.
He said the party will lead that force until it builds a people’s government rooted in the soil of the country.
