REFUGEE

It is a pathetic show of resistance by three Ministers of the Government on the statements made by the General at the first Press Conference conducted by him on the 29th November at the JAIC Hilton. Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa as the Cabinet Spokesman states that the Government expressed concern over the remarks made by the Retired General that he would gladly accept the support from whatever quarter whether former LTTE cardres, sympathizers or supporters including Velupillai Prabakaran’s parents if they were prepared to accept his work plan and policies. This is the most ridiculous argument for a Government which has the former second-in-command of the

LTTE in the form of a Cabinet Minister and also a Deputy Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party the main constituent party of the ruling coalition.

It is no doubt that the first news briefing of the Retired General Sarath Fonseka, now the contender of the Presidency of Sri Lanka was a fabulous show of strength, courage and statesmanship of the man who could take Sri Lanka forward from the present dictatorial government, where nepotism, corruption and mismanagement are the key aspects of Governance. This has really irked the Government mouthpieces as there was nothing substantial stated at the news briefing, that they could counter attack. Therefore, they found one statement where the General stated of the support of the “former LTTE cardres”. Being a true democrat, the General stated that he would garner the support of former LTTE cardres, their sympathizers, supporters or even Probakaran’s parents. Why not? All of them are citizens of Sri Lanka but were misguided by a megalomaniac in the style of Velupillai Prabakaran. If they are reformed and “accept the policies and work plan” of a true democratic leader in the form of Sarath Fonseka, what harm would it do to the country? What could be the “concerns” for the Government, which has a few senior LTTE cardres in its rank and file, who have accepted the policies of the incumbent Government? We simply do not understand.

Ministers Dulles Alahapperuma and Keheliya Rambukwella too have joined the fray by contributing their two cents worth. Minister Rambukwella is talking of the elephant symbol of the UNP. Where is the hand symbol of the SLFP? Why the beetle leaf was chosen to fight against the UNP when the red brothers joined hands with the SLFP even before the Minister crossed the divide and joined this Government? When they see that the mass support is being garnered by the opposition led General, the Government ministers get so agitated and they forget the past and lose their orientation. We will surely see many insane arguments in the days to come