Ranil and Co. will take Lanka towards disaster-Wimal

By Rathindra Kuruwita

President Ranil Wickremesinghe and those who brought him into power would take the country towards economic and political disaster, National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa said yesterday.Weerawansa added that in a few months there would be blood on the streets and the Indian and UN peacekeepers would land here.The leaderless nature and the lack of coherent strategy of the protests had ensured the victory of a man who was capable of crushing the protests mercilessly, Weerawansa added.

“The protests ended up sending Gotabaya home and paving the way for Ranil. I don’t

think this is what protestors wanted. So, we have to look at how did this happen?” he said.Weerawansa said that Gotabaya Rajapaksa withdrew from his house when protestors approached as he hesitated to use force. On the other hand, Ranil will not have such reservation, he said.

“The protests didn’t have leadership. In fact, some people there rejected leadership. They didn’t want theories, guidance or strategy. When you act without a plan, these things happen,” he said.

The NFF leader said that President Wickremesinghe will not hesitate to use force to crush protestors and that he is an expert in psychological warfare. Soon, the protests will disintegrate from within, he said.

“Ranil was elected President with the support of 134 MPs. Should we be surprised? The MPs were afraid of the protestors. They were fearful that they will be attacked in the villages. When protestors trie sto take over Parliament, Ranil used emergency powers and empowered the forces to assault the protestors. And the MPs thought, Ranil is an amazing guy. Ranil will protect us, the MPs thought,” the NFF leader said.

The MPs also thought that Dullas Alahapperuma was too democratic and that he had a soft spot for the protestors, Weerawansa said.

“They didn’t want Dullas because of that. But Ranil and those who brought him into power have no solutions to the problems faced by the people. They have no clue. Foreign workers won’t sent money. That is why we have been clamouring for an all party government,” he said.If Dullas had won the establishment of an all-party government would have been possible. The main opposition as well as a number of parties cross racial and religious and class divides would have worked with Dullas, Weerawansa said.

“When such a coalition works together, everyone in society is represented. People will feel that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. They will be ready to endure some pain and work with the government. The victory of Ranil has ensured this doesn’t happen,” he said.

President Wickremesinghe does not have the ability to resolve the economic crisis of the country, he said. Wickremesinghe did not receive congratulatory messages of any powerful nations.

“He doesn’t have the international recognition. He doesn’t have domestic legitimacy. Why would any local or international actor support him or legitimize him? Ranil’s only plan is going to the IMF. However, in a month or two, the economic crisis will rise again because workers won’t send money and other countries won’t help us. Then people will come onto the road again and Ranil is capable of ordering the forces to shoot them. Then we will have a blood bath. Then UN peacekeepers or Indian peacekeepers will come here. The country is headed towards disaster, and everyone must come together to stop this,” he said.