FSP rules out any truck with JVP

… accuses some JVP leaders of being in league with top capitalists, eyeing presidency

Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) has ruled out any possibility of teaming up with their erstwhile colleagues of the JVP to form a new political alliance, accusing incumbent leaders of the latter being in league with leading businessmen of the capitalist class.

Addressing an FSP rally in Galle recently, party’s leader Premkumar Gunaratnam said: Those who meet us are asking almost the same question. They ask us why we cannot sink our differences and join hands with the JVP to stand up against the government as a united force. We know that we may have more power when united than being divided. The JVP as a party is not a place unknown to us all in FSP. On the other hand the JVP does not have allegations of corruption or frauds against them. We can work together and we have shown that by supporting the JVP-affiliated organisations in their campaigns. University students with us supported the teachers’ struggle and anti-SAITM campaigns to successful ends. We have no problem with those organisations and we always are with them when they struggle for the cause of the people. Yet, we have a problem with several leaders of the JVP who are now in league with some business tycoons such as Dhammika Perera and Dudley Sirisena who are known as the leaders of the present day capitalist class. How could we join them? On the other hand the JVP has now started to espouse the virtues of the executive presidency. We have heard its top leaders stating that the executive presidency is not that bad. The JVP has been against the executive presidency since its introduction to this country. The present day JVP may change its stance, yet we have no reason to change our policy of detesting the executive presidency. These differences would not let us join with them,” Gunaratnam said.