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I'll fight for the rights of the people- MR

1 May 2016 11:36 pm - 28     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Former president and present Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, speaking at the May Day rally organised by the Joint Opposition in Kirulapone, Colombo today, said his family members, including his son MP Namal Rajapaksa and brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa faced imminent arrest, but he would not shy away from fighting for the rights of people because of such threats.

Mr. Rajapaksa said he had been active in politics for over 40 years and opposed the United National Party(UNP) throughout. He said no basis for the allegation that he had made certain underhand deals with that party.

“After today, there will be cases against those who are close to us. I told Namal to be ready. They have implicated Gotabaya as well. I may also have to go to jail. But our solidarity with the people will never be broken even if I am jailed a thousand times,” he said adding that the government was making false allegations against his family.

Commenting on the SLFP May Day rally in Galle, he said both were SLFP rallies. “I’m here representing the SLFP faction in the Joint Opposition,” he said.

He said it was sad to find that the SLFP, formed by leaders S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and D. A. Rajapaksa after they quit the UNP during ts heyday, had been subjugated by the UNP at the moment. He claimed that the government was not a unity government but a coalition of two political parties.

He said the SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka were not loss making organisations though the government said so. He said they were making operational profits. He said the Prime Minister had misled the Cabinet and Parliament regarding a financial crisis.

“The foreign loans obtained during my tenure amounted to US$ 12 billion and US$ 4 billion was spent as war expenses. This government has obtained loans worth US$ 7.4 billion. This is why the country is engulfed in a financial crisis today,” he said.

While heavily criticising the proposals to increase VAT and other taxes, he said it would make a severe impact on the cost of living and promised that he would always be committed to the people and all workers.

Meanwhile, Joint Opposition Leader MP Dinesh Gunawardane said the people didn’t vote for them to make an alliance with the UNP and pledged that they would send the UNP-led government home and establish a Mahinda Rajapaksa government.

“We should get together to put an end to the fraud of Yahapalanaya and compensate the people,” he said.

MP Wimal Weerawansa said they would commence their battle to send the government home from the rally which was organised in collaboration with the Joint Council of Trade Unions, to end the suppression of workers.

Trade Union activists W.H. Piyadasa, Somaweera Chandrasiri and Jagath Kumara, and MPs Udaya Gammanpila, Dilum Amunugama, Pavithra Wanniarachchi and Gamini Lokuge also addressed the crowd gathered at the rally.

Almost all SLFP MPs of the joint opposition attended the rally despite a warning by the party to take action against them if they attended it. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

 

Video by Sanjeewa


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  Comments - 28

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  • M.O.Daya Monday, 02 May 2016 02:18 PM

    SLFP. was founded by SWRD yes, but from where did D.A.Rajapakse come all of a sudden? Funny eh?

    Genius Monday, 02 May 2016 04:53 PM

    A few Days Back you said " People must rise up against Governement" Now you say this - what next. Now you are with the people and not with the family memebrs.

    pandula Monday, 02 May 2016 04:25 PM

    If you wants to fight for the right of the people why did you hold the president election before the term expired you should have waited till end of 2016 and then called for president election we all know now you are in politics to save your family and friends not for anything else.

    Rajr Monday, 02 May 2016 04:01 PM

    Yes, for the rights of a few Rajapakses and for the final rights of the country

    M.O.Daya Monday, 02 May 2016 03:54 PM

    D.A. Rajapakse was not a founder of SLFP.

    stephen Monday, 02 May 2016 03:33 PM

    go and tell these kind of story's to people like weerawansa.

    Thomas Monday, 02 May 2016 03:30 PM

    Dont fight for us we are safeYou fight for your survival

    explain your "V" Monday, 02 May 2016 03:17 PM

    Why the "V" sign -- pray, what victory have you achieved since you were sent home ?

    Hamlet Monday, 02 May 2016 03:16 PM

    Have pity on me. I was misled. I will do better next time.

    Rhonda Taylor Monday, 02 May 2016 03:10 PM

    First on your agenda should be to pay back the money you robbed from the people.After that think of talking

    RITES ? Monday, 02 May 2016 03:00 PM

    fighting for rights or "LAST RITES" of the people ?

    Veda-mama Monday, 02 May 2016 02:49 PM

    Oh! Yea!! We all know what kind of FEAR was inflicted on the WORKING CLASS by the ALMIGHTY RULING CLASS.

    ananda Monday, 02 May 2016 02:40 PM

    You were given a chance. But you chose to fill yours and your family pockets only. Sorry you have no future Mahinda. No one asked you to throw your presidency in 4 years. Go home spend your old age happily. via DM Android App

    Sri Wickrama Monday, 02 May 2016 02:40 PM

    You know very little about the rights of people. We experienced it during your 9 year tenure.

    Sri Lankan Monday, 02 May 2016 05:40 AM

    Well, he did fight for the rites of the people for nine years, didn't he!!!?

    Tom Monday, 02 May 2016 02:16 PM

    Well said

    Shifa Monday, 02 May 2016 11:21 AM

    Too bad! You won't get to!

    K A Nihal PEIRIS Monday, 02 May 2016 10:52 AM

    MR yes u can fight for your Rights of your Family as you did earlier via DM Android App

    Rights - my foot ! Monday, 02 May 2016 08:00 AM

    I'll fight for the rights of the people" - The right to travel in white vans !

    Lost case Monday, 02 May 2016 07:55 AM

    "EMPTY VESSELS MAKE THE MOST NOISE"

    Namal Monday, 02 May 2016 07:45 AM

    Yes Thaatha. Please fight for the people. I need a few more billions of US dollars.

    Premalal Monday, 02 May 2016 07:33 AM

    Sure you will fight for people's rights. It is a very well paid job.

    pxx Monday, 02 May 2016 07:15 AM

    Yes you are fighting for "Family first".

    Madlin Monday, 02 May 2016 06:48 AM

    Why didnt you fight for the rights of Lasantha W and Ekneligoda when you had 23 majority in parliament. Dont bullshit man all want you want is to rob the country further. Your son & brother are criminals if the law doesnt punish them God will and thats whats happening. via DM Android App

    Wyman Monday, 02 May 2016 06:42 AM

    Safeguard rights of your family.

    Lion Monday, 02 May 2016 06:16 AM

    Say it this way I will protect the rights of family instead the right of the people.

    sathees Monday, 02 May 2016 06:11 AM

    You missed your chance!

    Jagath Leanage Monday, 02 May 2016 05:50 AM

    Now, you are talking about the RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE. Why didn't you do that during your regime? We can remember, during your election campaign in 2005, you said that "Workers Charter" will be introduced. What happened to it?


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