JVP says it has right to maintain relations with US

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The JVP yesterday (06) strongly defended its right to address Sri Lankans and Americans of Sri Lankan origin living in the US.

Gampaha District Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) MP Vijitha Herath dismissed criticism directed at the party by various interested parties, both in and out of Parliament, over the visit undertaken by party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The JVP-led JJB is represented by three MPs in Parliament.

“We maintain relationships with all countries. There cannot be any justification in questioning our right to meet US Ambassador in Colombo Julie Chung. We have had meetings with Ambassador Chung before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster and after,” lawmaker Herath said.

MP Herath added that the party leader addressed meetings at Los Angeles, Houston, Boston, Norfolk, Washington and New York where he had an opportunity to interact with Sri Lankans. MP Dissanayake is expected to be back in Colombo this week.

Responding to The Island queries, those who had been trying to deceive the masses that there was a clandestine understanding between the JVP/JJB and the US Embassy here conveniently turned a blind eye to the growing relationship between the Parliament and the US.

Heads of Sectoral Oversight Committees of Parliament and a group of House officials recently visited the US on the invitation of the USAID, the JVPer said. Pointing out that there were number of other projects implemented by Parliament with the USAID funding, MP Herath questioned the rationale in attacking the JVP/JJB over maintaining cordial relations with the US.

MP Herath said that bankrupt political activists had sought to mislead the public by highlighting the display of US flag at meetings addressed by the JVP leader. The MP said that the American law prohibited the display of a national flag of any country on its soil unless the US flag, too, was displayed.

MP Herath said that the JVP/JJB received quite a significant response to MP Dissanayake’s appeal for the support of those living in the US.

Addressing his final meeting in New York on Nov. 06 at the Hilton Garden Inn, lawmaker Dissanayake emphasized that Sri Lanka now experienced an environment conducive for a political change. The continuing crisis has compelled the Rajapaksa camp to team up with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as both camps struggled to contain the emerging popularity of the JJB, MP Dissanayake said.

The social crisis caused by the continuing political and economic upheaval had created a perfect environment for a much desired political changes, the JVP leader said, alleging that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government would do everything in its power to thwart the JJB.

Acknowledging the immense power wielded by the government, the JJB, as the real Opposition, had to depend entirely on the people’s power to resist the government. MP Dissanayake said that though President Wickremesinghe made Local Government and Provincial Council polls to disappear, the presidential election couldn’t be put off under any circumstances. The JVP leader said that in terms of the Constitution, the presidential election has to be held before Oct. 17 next year and in case an attempt was made to put it off the people would come to the streets.