JVP says Ranil will cling to presidency till last possible day without holding polls

Calls on people not to fall prey to fib about early election

By Saman Indrajith

JVP-led NPP has called on people not to fall prey to fib being peddled by the Ranil- Rajapaksa administration that there will be a presidential election soon.

JVP-NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressing a rally held in Pelmadulla on Tuesday said that Wickremsinghe ascending to presidency had been fortuitous and would never dare test the public opinion as long as he can cling on to power.

“They are floating a rumour that there will be a presidential election. We call on people not to be gullible to believe in this because there would be no such election. Wickremesinghe has time till October 17, 2023 to hold the presidential polls for which the nominations are to be called by July end next year. He will remain in the presidency till the last possible day,” Dissanayake said, adding that in the meantime a lie was being propagated that the economic situation was improving.

“Wickremesinghe says that the country’s economy is now better. The truth is otherwise according to facts and figures. Our growth rate in the first quarter of 2022 was – 0.5 percent. The corresponding figure this year shows a minus 11.5 percent. No other Asian country has suffered such an economic setback. This country can never achieve progress as long as a bunch of fraudsters take turns to rule it. They protect each other. Has any ruler gone to jails in Sri Lanka for stealing the public funds? It is because those in power always protect their predecessors.

In Pakistan, former President Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to a 10-year prison term for corruption. In the Maldives, former President Abdullah Yameen was sent to jail for 11 years for corruption. In Malaysia, former Prime Minister Najib Razak was jailed for 12 years for corruption. Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh was sentenced to 17 years for graft. In Tamil Nadu former chief minister Jayalalithaa was given a prison sentence for corruption. Would such a thing ever happen in this country though people know that they had been defrauded by their rulers? It is because the successors always would protect their predecessors as per the deals between them,” Dissanayake said.