Johnston appeals to people to bear with the government for few more days

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando on Thursday called on people to keep their faith and trust in the government just a couple of days more without falling for opposition led propaganda.

“Problems of shortages and prospects of a meagre new year would be solved within a few more days. Actions have been taken to replenish stocks of essential items and to bring down the prices that have been jacked up by traders recently. We are well aware of the suffering of people due to shortages in the market and disruption of services. All we ask from people is to keep their trust in us for few more days till we deliver solutions to these problems,” the Minister said addressing a ceremony held at Temple Trees in Colombo to mark the inauguration of the Second phase of the Vari Saubhagya (irrigation prosperity –a two-year accelerated programme to revitalize 5,000 small rural irrigation systems).

Minister Fernando said that some sections of the media engaged in a campaign to depict the President and the Government as a failed lot and incapable of providing for the people with their needs. “If you watch TV you’ll see lines and queues for gas, petrol and diesel. The fuel shortage is only a part of a colossal plan to get this government ousted. It is a constructed shortage and we are saddened by the finding that those within our camp too had supported the master plan against this government. The problem is amplified by the fears and panic created by lies. The media knowingly or unknowingly supported the propagation of the lies of shortages and people started panic buying which finally brought the actual result of shortages. It is not that the government did nothing in the face of these problems. For example, there was a fertilizer problem. We addressed that issue and that problem is no longer in existence. Similarly we are addressing all other problems and issues. We would not give up our progress and the task of realizing the promises made to the people.”

Minister Fernando called on the media to see the truth behind the façade of problems created by the conspirators against the government. “For example, today we are starting the restoration and rehabilitation of hundred rural tanks that have lost their water retention capacity owing to centuries of siltation and sedimentation. For TV channels it is lacklustre news. Suppose a group of opposition MPs go near the same tanks and blame the government or allege that there is massive fraud behind this project, TV channels will find that news item more worthy. In the same way, the media either knowingly or unknowingly have served the conspirators’ agenda. We call on the media to see beyond the façade of problems and help the government’s objective of serving the people in these trying times,” the Minister said.

He said that the government consisted of persons who were tempered enough to stand up against any odds. “We did the same while we were in the last months of the war against the LTTE. How many of those advised and professed against the elimination of the terrorist outfit? Only a few had the faith in the government and the security forces and that faith later on snowballed into a massive force that could not be prevented achieving its objective of liberating the motherland. We are confident that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa would steer the country through present problems because they have the strength to do so. All we ask people is to have their faith and trust in the government till we solve these problems,” the Minister said.