Minister Johnston accuses Opposition of resorting to dirty politics by instigating people to commit violence

Chief Government whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando on Monday accused the Opposition of promoting what he called ‘vulture politics’ by instigating people to commit violence.

Speaking at a ceremony held in Balapitiya to mark the laying the foundation stone for two new bridges, the Minister said: “The intention of Sajith Premadasa’s gang and Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s JVP is clear. They want to see blood and violence thinking that they could make use of them to their advantage. They send their grassroots level activists to create disturbances at gas selling points and fuel stations by instigating people. We have identified their intentions and plans. We will not let their plots succeed.”

Minister Fernando said that behind the bloody violence that prevailed in the country in the late 1980s, were the UNP and JVP leaders. “They are nothing but political vultures who dream of furthering their political goals over the dead bodies of innocents. On the other hand they are convinced that they cannot come to power through the means of elections. Therefore they try to capitalise on the prevailing shortages to create unrest, violence and bloodshed thinking that it is their shortcut to power”, he said.

Minister Fernando said that there were shortages of many essential commodities and price hikes. “We are not unaware of this. We have recognized these market trends and are doing everything possible to provide relief to the people as fast as we can. Truth number one is that these shortages are not only in Sri Lanka but experienced on a global scale. Second, we have no intention of making use of the excuse of the pandemic but to try hard to develop this country, despite the overwhelming challenges. We know that the people in these villages would be happy to see the two bridges coming up to ease their burdens. Third, these problems of shortages are only temporary. When the time comes for us to see them off from our economy, we won’t tell you that we could not achieve our developmental goals because of these temporary problems. We know people had trust in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. All I am asking you is to keep that trust unwavering as we are attending to solve these crises. Do not fall for the tricks and lies of the Opposition. I won’t be surprised if they come this evening and describe how these new bridges are being constructed with the intention of mining sand in the Madhu Ganga (river). They spread that sort of lies and describe every developmental act as an attempt to steal public funds or to destroy the environment. You may recall how they described the road to Lankagama as an attempt to fell trees in the Sinharaja.”

“We are not afraid of Opposition tactics. It is not out of fear that we do not retaliate but because we respect democracy and we are stronger than them. We are led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who led this nation to a war victory against the world’s most ruthless terrorist outfit. We are neither retreating nor surrendering and also know that people are still with us,” the Minister said.

Plantations Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, State Minister of Coast Conservation and Low-Lying Lands Development Mohan P de Silva, Galle District MP Geetha Kumarasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Highways R.W.R. Pemasiri and Director General of RDA Sardha Weerakoon were among those present.