What Pivithuru Hetak with NGOs - Ven. Dhammananda

“Ven. Sobitha Thera and Ven. Rathana Thera have fallen prey to the NGOs today. Their organisations, the National Movement for Social Justice and Pivithuru Hetak Udesa Jathika Sabhawa are also in the same position. It is unlikely that they will set the country on the correct path,” he said. 

Addressing a special national convention organised by the Federation of National Organisations in Colombo, the thera said that it was tragic that national forces had split into so many factions today and also invited the Bodu Bala Sena to team up with the organisation.

He said incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa was a most trustworthy leader and could bring together national forces and save the country.

Meanwhile, National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa said the national forces should gather round President Rajapaksa to make him victorious at the upcoming presidential election so that a new Constitution could be introduced by him.

“No one believed that we could defeat terrorism a few years ago but president Rajapaksa stepped in and eliminated terrorism from the country. This shows what he is capable of. Therefore, we will be able to bring in a new Constitution through the incumbent president,” he said.

Opposition parties were backed by the westerners and following agendas drafted by those who want to annihilate the country, he alleged.

Commenting on the common candidate, expected to be fielded by the Opposition parties against the incumbent President, he said the common candidate was the fall guy, because the party leaders did not want to face the ignominy of losing. 

“The United National Party leader evidently knew that he couldn’t win the previous presidential election so he put Sarath Fonseka forward. If Mr. Wickremesinghe contested and lost, he could have lost the party leadership and also the leadership of the Opposition. Mr. Wickremesinghe is attempting to use the same strategy again to save his position in the party and the Opposition,” he said. 

The convener of the organisation, Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara said people had to ensure that President Rajapaksa won if they wanted to save the country. (Lahiru Pothmulla)  

Pix by Eshan Fernando (ADA)