Members of Parliament, Mr. Kabir Hashim, strongly condemned the false statements made by Mr. Rajitha Senaratne regarding the Samagi Janabalawegaya youth conference held in the Kegalle district. Senaratne claimed it was difficult to gather youth for the conference and that rice packets were given to those who attended from the Mawanella constituency. Hashim addressed these accusations during a press conference at the opposition leader’s office in Colombo today (12th).
“Mr. Rajitha Senaratne has held several political discussions with apparent animosity. Recently, a meeting at my house was misrepresented, and certain comments were made. I did not correct that statement. Last month, a group of Samagi Janabalawegaya MPs met at my home. Mr. Sajith Premadasa, the presidential candidate of the United People’s Force, discussed the shortcomings of our force, strategies to win the presidential election, and the challenges we face.
Mr. Rajitha Senaratne claimed at the youth conference in the Kegalle district that youths were brought to the conference by giving them rice packets and that it was very difficult to get the youths to join. He suggested the youth were brought by force. This statement is entirely false. We request Mr. Senaratne to refrain from making such statements that offend the youth community of our country. It is not fair.
It took about a month to gather the youth for the Kegalle district youth conference. After visiting villages and discussing with the youth, they were invited to participate in the conference. These young people did not come expecting a packet of rice; they attended based on their conscience and belief in the ideology of Samagi Janabalawegaya and to hear Mr. Sajith Premadasa’s message.
The youth from Mawanella constituency attended the Samagi Youth Conference without any influence. We did not bring them for food or drink. If Mr. Rajitha Senaratne claims that the youth came for a rice packet, he is wrong. Today’s youth are educated and intelligent. If Mr. Senaratne’s statement has hurt the youth of the Kegalle district, I apologize. If it is proven that youths from Mawanella were given rice packets to attend, I will resign from the council.”
