Crisis won’t be resolved with PM’s resignation, Prez should also quit: JVP

• Violence is not beneficial to the struggle, it will only benefit the rivals
• Mahinda Rajapaksa and his group, who planned the attack inside Temple Trees should be arrested

By Ajith Siriwardana

Claiming that the present political crisis would not be resolved even after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s resignation, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said yesterday the struggle should continue until President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also steps down. 

JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva told a news conference that people should not resort to violence and that this struggle should continue peacefully as it happened so far. 

 
“The violence is not beneficial to the struggle, it will only benefit the rivals. We need to fortify this struggle peacefully and democratically until the President and the government also quit just as the Prime Minister, who vowed to stay on, had to leave. We need to win this struggle soon,” he said.  

Mr. Silva said the Rajapaksas brought down thugs to Temple Trees with a plan and attacked the peaceful protesters outside Temple Trees and at GotaGoGama.  

He said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his group should take the full responsibility over the series of incidents and attacks on peaceful protesters.  

He said Mahinda Rajapaksa and his group, who planned the attack inside Temple Trees should be arrested.  
“This is not a minor incident,” he said.  

Tilvin said the President should at least now realize the plight the people are facing and added that this struggle could not be suppressed through violent means.