“If Hambantota is the homeland of the Rajapaksas, they must remember that this is also our homeland. If they started from here, we believe that these citizens here have a greater responsibility to defeat them than any other citizen of the country. Instead of a tribal council in Hambantota, we have taken on the responsibility of protecting the rights of the citizens of the whole country. We started with an auspicious rally in Tangalle. Rallies will be held in several cities in the future. We have planned to launch a new style of government. I invite everyone to unite as a river of people to end this journey with victory and to build a country where the people of this country can live happily and peacefully,” said Comrade Anura Dissanayake, the leader of the JVP and NPP speaking at the inaugural rally of a programme held at Tangalle on 26.02.2022.
He said, “This government has plunged the entire farming community of our country into a catastrophe. Today the farmer looks at his field and sighs. Also, due to the shortage of milk powder and the increase in prices, parents are distressed as they cannot give milk to their children. When we run out of dollars to import milk, we have to wait in queues. Some mothers look at their babies and cry. This is a government that has oppressed even infants.
Our country’s exporters are in crisis. A large number of containers have been detained at the port. Businessmen are helpless. The multi-day trawler of the fishing community engaged in the fishing industry could not say as there is no oil. They tell us that such a catastrophe has never happened. The country’s universities have not yet been started. However, the government has allowed tamashas. But universities have been functioning online for two years. The students have not been to university for a single day but have to engage in second-year educational courses which disturb them mentally. From that point of view, this is an oppressive government. The government of the seven ‘kinsmen’ formed by Gotabaya, Mahinda, Basil, Namal, Chamal, Shashendra and Nipuna has oppressed the people of this country in every possible way.
The ministers have fallen to the level of presenting questions to the people. The Minister of Finance should come to Parliament and tell the country about the economic crisis. But Finance Minister Basil is like a mute who drank decoction. In such a crisis, the rulers of a country should explain the nature of the crisis and come up with a solution plan. However, the Minister of Finance does not come to Parliament. Wholesalers in Pettah are better than the Finance Minister of our country. The President goes even further. He says nothing about the issues that have arisen. He looks numb. There are no power cuts in Mirihana where the President is. Generators are bought to the official residence of the Minister of Energy with public money. While there is no fuel to run vehicles, the Prime Minister flies in a jet on a pilgrimage to Tirupati. This is a government that has no sensitivity about the country or the people. Therefore, this government should be driven away.
This is not the first time the people of this country have rallied to oust a government. Governments have been ousted before. They have elected a more failed government than the previous government. The Ranil-Maithri government should have been ousted. It is right that the people of the country decided for that. But what went wrong? The next person chosen by the people.
Meanwhile, Maithripala comes on stage and says everything was good during his. The old herd blames each other. This site tells that Johnston stole from the highway from Mirigama to Rambukkana. The answer to that is how Kiriella stole from Mirigama to Kadawatha. One minister says that Channa Jayasumana stole medicine. The Opposition says that the government is wasting money. Then it is told how Sajith got Rs. 100 million from the Housing Authority. Therefore, power must be given to a new movement that rejects these groups that have gone down the same path.
Governments that have been stealing billions of public money for so long were the ones that ruled our country. We need to create a government that does not steal a cent of public money and does not waste a single cent. Only the National People’s Power has the ability to do it. Some people say about the statements I make in Parliament that I only say that in Parliament to avoid lawsuits. Therefore, I have come close to Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa’s house and am coming out with this story. In 2015, six and a half million dollars was given by Chinese companies to the election campaign. When I say this in Parliament, they shake their heads. Johnston got up one day and said I had had the power to punish the corrupt. I stood up and said that there would be no one in the front row if I had such power. Only those in the NPP can say that. This country needs such a corruption-free government. We invite the tens of thousands of parents gathered in Tangalle to work harder to build a government free of fraud and corruption. Some schools in Hambantota do not have toilets, playgrounds or libraries. There was a report that many schools do not have electricity or water. The wealth of the people should be used to provide such facilities. The wealth that could have been used to uplift the lives of the people has been stolen by several major families. These must be taken back. Therefore, Mahinda, Gotabhaya as well as Sajith should get alarmed. However, we are gradually mobilizing the people’s power to transform this country to form a people’s government. Today it is that mass power that is raging in Tangalle.
Today there is a great deal of suspicion regarding cases related to politics in our country. Basil’s Malwana case is in the Gampaha court. There is a doubt about that. Today our country needs a government that can enforce the law with dignity. We need to ensure that our police officers are promoted according to their abilities and knowledge. The HQI in charge of this area has ordered the wiring of several of our speakers to be cut off. But under our rule, we will build a just and law-abiding country that can protect dignity of all. These rulers can’t do that. Recently an egg was thrown towards our meeting at Gampaha. Two persons involved in the incident were caught and were handed over to the police. The police took them to the hospital and sent them home. The same policemen called us and informed us about it. Today the Police Department does not have the power to administer justice. Well-known journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrema’s house was attacked with faecal matter and stones and threatened. Chamuditha says that videos taken by 21 cameras were handed over to police. There is also a vehicle number. But no one has been arrested.
We have to form a government to change the country and build where the rule of law prevails. A large group of criminals in our country are hiding behind political power. Former Superintendent of Police Shani Abeysekara’s petition to the Supreme Court has revealed a great deal of information about the origins of the Easter attack. They are information found by the CID.
Against this backdrop of crime, the economy of our country has plummeted. Government reports state that food inflation in January exceeded 20%. We need to work to gain a share of the world market. Existing resources should be utilized to uplift the lives of the people of our country.
After the war, an environment was created that could make our country the Wonder of Asia. They say that the cause of the economic crisis in our country today is the corona. But didn’t corona affect Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, Malaysia? Foreign reserves in those countries increased. Is the cause corona? The coronavirus is only two years old. But there is a 73-year-old blue and green virus. These two viruses made our country a garbage pit. They have possessed the country’s wealth by creating this situation. Businessmen who have amassed black wealth have media power. We do not underestimate the enemy. What did not some media do during the last presidential election! There were some media institutions that produced snakes from the Kelani Vihara. They have a belief that people can be deceived at any moment. We know that the enemy is powerful. They believe that wealth, power, the media can deceive the people. However, we are mobilizing a strong people’s force that could beat them all.
Some people try to say that the JVP is overestimating. We do not overestimate ourselves. And there is no underestimation of the enemy either. We have an accurate assessment of ourselves as well as the enemy. We have joined hands with religious leaders, trade unions, the business community, university lecturers and lawyers to build the most significant mass movement ever to emerge in Sri Lanka. We need to build a mass force that can fight any enemy. We need not be scattered and isolated. The incorrupt groups that want to change this country are negotiating with us. We invite them to unite to build a motherland of honour and dignity.
The National People’s Power has been formed to allow incorrupt people who wish to say goodbye to their respective parties. Tens of thousands of people who have understood the path we are taking have gathered in Tangalle. Thank you for bringing us strength and courage.
We are also organizing in the village, in the city and nationally. Let’s get together. We are ready to create a mass river to oust this regime. At the same time, we are mobilizing those forces to allow a change of government without postponing the election. We did not make this decision to move haphazardly. We would never turn back. We will definitely build a mass movement to seize power. Let’s meet and discuss with religious leaders at temples, churches and kovils. Let’s talk to business people.
If Hambantota is the homeland of the Rajapaksas, they must remember that this is also our homeland. If they started from here, we believe that these citizens here have a greater responsibility to defeat them than any other citizen of the country. Instead of a tribal council in Hambantota, we have taken on the responsibility of protecting the rights of the citizens of the whole country. We started with an auspicious rally in Tangalle. Rallies will be held in several cities in the future. We have planned to launch a new style of government. I invite everyone to unite as a river of people to end this journey with victory and to build a country where the people of this country can live happily and peacefully.”
