A CURSE UPON US SAYS PROF. WIJESURIYA
Regrets bringing MS, Ranil to office
National Movement for a Just Society Convener Prof. Sarath Wijesuriya was of the opinion that a curse may be put on him if they played a part in Maithripala Sirisena being elected President and for the blunder of making Ranil Wickremesinghe the Prime Minister, as they had collectively shattered peoples hopes of good governance.
“Curse be upon us, if it was our mistake to being part of electing Maithripala Sirisena as President. Curse be upon us for the blunder that allowed the current Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, who shattered peoples’ hopes of good governance, getting elected,” he said.
He said this on Wednesday (29) while participating at an event to mark the 77th birth anniversary of Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera held at the BMICH.
He said Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s short sighted politics, self-conceit, lack of responsibility to the people and insensitivity to public opinion has been the main reason for the failure of good governance.
“The people of this country expected democracy from a person who hates democracy. Mr. Wickremesinghe
has remained the party leader undemocratically, by ruling as a dictator. It is obvious.
He has his favourites. No one is allowed to rise to the national level,’ he said. Keeping a person who has been repeatedly defeated in elections and loves occupying the opposition leader’s post as the leader of the party shows that those in the UNP have become a cat’s paw of a dictator, he charged.
He said Mr. Wickremesinghe had proved that he was not a leader by hiring two persons to contest the presidential election on two separate occasions .
“He hired candidates to contest the presidential elections twice to cover up his deficiencies. He tried to obtain power with the blessing of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who left him destitute in the political arena,” he said. He said President Sirisena who acted innocent as the common candidate had become a power hungry individual who does not respect the law.
“Former President Kumaratunga told us that Sirisena should be selected as the presidential candidate as he was not corrupt, was not racist and was an experienced and honest man. But the entire country knows that all these assurances have proved to be false,” Professor Wijesuriya said.
“We accused former president Mahinda Rajapaksa of touring the world using the tax-payer’s money. But President Sirisena has now eclipsed Mr. Rajapaksa in this regard”, he charged.
He said there was a need for a Constitutional Council because Mr Rajapaksa blatantly influenced the Judiciary but President Sirisena insulted it saying it was similar to an abused child after he was unable to appoint the judges he wanted.
“Recently, a person came to me and said “professor, why are you not to be seen nowadays?” Then I said what we say is not published in the media. After that he asked “are you wearing a trouser? This is not my first experience of being asked such a question.
I admit that it was my mistake when I helped a short-sighted ruler like Sirisena to become President. I apologize to you for the mistake in the name of the late Ven. Sobitha Thera,’ he said.
Professor Wijesuriya said they would wish for a leader who is responsible for peoples’ lives, committed to good governance, the rule of law and is willing to follow the path of Venerable Sobitha Thera.
The event was attended by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Ministers Navin Dissanayake, Gayantha Karunathilaka, Karunaratne Paranavitharane and several other politicians, civil society leaders and artistes.
The people of this country expected democracy from a person who hates democracy
He hired candidates to contest the presidential elections twice to cover up his deficiencies
Curse be upon us, if it was our mistake to being part of electing Maithripala Sirisena as President
President Sirisena who acted innocent as the common candidate had become a power hungry individual