Who is sabotaged the largest political alliance march in Colombo?
Will JVP join the government
Impact of Thondaman – Digambaram unity
The discussion that a massive march and protest should be held by the opposition political parties, trade unions, mass organizations and other progressive people against the repression of the government started about a week ago. This proposal was presented by the civil organizations and it was decided that Samagi Jana Balawega will also support it.
Without any charges, Vasantha Mudalige, Reverend Siridhamma and others are being held by the government . This is a serious situation. We cannot remain silent at a time like this. This repression will knock on the doors of every house in the future. So let’s take action against this…’ said Sajith to his group of MPs as soon as he received the invitation. ‘General Secretary Ranjith’s position was that we should face this situation as a common camp by gathering all the groups.
Planning the protest
Accordingly, the negotiations with the relevant groups were coordinated by a team including General Secretary Ranjith. On several occasions, the group met in several places to discuss this matter.
However, the most special event that came to be seen here was that both the government and the JVP, which represents the opposition, disapproved of this protest from the very beginning. While Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Harin Fernando, Indika Anuruddha publicly attacked the protest while holding press conferences on the government’s side, JVP Lalkantha and trade union leader Wasantha Samarasinghe also attacked it following the government. Lalkanta said that he did not know who was doing this protest and for what purpose. Wasantha had said that the trade unions belonging to his union will not participate in this protest.
Accordingly, it was seen that the government and the JVP were in the same position and attacked this protest. However, in the discussions held with Ranjith, many confirmed that a number of parties and organizations will join it.Accordingly, the political parties and civil organizations that joined the protest are as follows.
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- United People’s Force
- Tamil National Alliance
- Vanguard Socialist Party
- Sri Lanka Freedom Party
- Freedom People’s Assembly (Dallas Team)
- 43 Division
- United Socialist Party
- Tamil Progressive Alliance
- New Democratic Marxist-Leninist Party
- Team including Anura Priyadarshana Chandima Veerakkodi
- Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
- Agila Ilangai Muslim Congress
Organizations
- Ceylon Teachers Association
- Inter-University Board
- Bank of Ceylon Employees Union
- Young Lawyers Association
- Sri Lanka Young Journalists Association
- Center for Labor Struggle
- United Labor Federation
- United Women’s Force
- Federation of Media Workers Trade Unions
- Galle face struggers
- Ceylon Estate Services Association
- Association of Postal and Telecommunications Officers
- Duty Lanka
- Faxis Collective
- People’s Vocational Centre
- Frotect Organization
- Progress Teachers Association
- Integrated Development Officer Centre
- Sri Lanka All Telecommunication Employees Union
- The Sami Combined Trade Union Force
- Government Family Health Services Association
- Amalgamated Health Workers Union
- Amalgamated Teachers Service Union
- Federation of 25 Trade Unions of State and Provincial Public Management Service Officers
- Amalgamated Engineering Corporation Employees Union
- Union of Printers
JVP dodge the protest
In addition to these signed organizations, nearly 150 other organizations and trade unions were informed that they would participate. Accordingly, the last meeting was held on Tuesday evening at the opposition leader’s office. Joseph Stalin and others were present.
The government is taking maximum measures to suppress this. That’s why we need to pay attention to it…’ When Gayanta said, Sajith pointed out, ‘People have the right to protest and march in a democratic way. The government cannot violate that right. The police can’t either.
Meanwhile, JVP not joining the protest was also discussed here.
Some say that they are against this protest. But we are there for this protest. Our effort of taking to the streets with the aim to stop the persecution of Reverend Vasantha Mudali and Siridhamma. We have no party differences on that. We are going on a walk. Sajith was adamant that if anyone from the security forces was involved, we would take care of it.
However, by the morning of the 2nd when the protest was organized, many members of the Samagi Jana Balawega had received letters from the security forces. It was informed not to participate in the protest march.
Letters from the police
Accordingly, on Tuesday night as well as on Wednesday morning, the police had taken steps to deliver these letters to Sajith and several SJB MPs. The police had also arranged to send these letters to some MPs through WhatsApp. Also, the police worked to publicize this letter through the media. The most special occurance was that letter addressed by name to the oppostion leader they mentioned not to participate in the protest and the protesti is a illigal one.
The government did everything to stop people from going to the protest. The police sent a letter to my house early in the morning. We are not afraid of that. Sajith said that for the sake of democracy in this country, I will go to the streets with the people…’ and immediately took steps to meet SJB group of MPs to discuss the matter.
Sajith meets SJB MPs
Around noon, Sajith met the group of MPs at the opposition leader’s office. Many of them had received such letters sent to them by the security forces.
Neither the government nor the police have the power to do such things. We have to do this protest peacefully’ said General Secretary Ranjith.
Answering that, Hesha said, ‘The government is using every possible strategy to stop this’. There, Chaminda Wijesiri made a statement accusing JVP.
‘J.V.P. attack us. Chaminda said, ‘Our aim is pure. Sajith’s stance was that when the government goes on a brutal march against democracy, we will stand with all possible forces against that march
Government’s attempt to sabotage
It is understood that the government is planning to send a gang to disrupt this effort. We should all remember that they can attack the meeting…’ by saying, Mujibur reveal a another side to this that no one had thought of.
‘according to a news I got this morning JVP and the government planning to sneak in their goons into the protest and cripple the effort. They indicated that these people have planned to create an unnecessary disturbance here and create a conflict with the police. Also, I have heard that these people are preparing to attack the leader of the opposition. Therefore, think again about your coming to the meeting…’ when Mujibur said, Sajith clearly said that he will stand up for the rights of the people under any circumstances, and that he is not afraid of threats from the thugs of the government or the threats of opportunistic people from the opposition who prevent people’s gatherings.
Revelation of a secret deal
There, another MP made a special revelation about a secret deal between the government and the JVP, which surprised everyone.
‘Now J.V.P. They are trying to disrupt the unity of the opposition by making a deal with the government. The best example of that is their protest last week. It was in Hyde Park. But the government did nothing about it. The ground was also booked. Loudspeakers were also allowed. Demonstrations were allowed. Police security was also provided for the meeting. They did not even send a letter asking us not to hold meetings. Looks like these guys have a deal. These people are now acting in the movie Daval Miguel Re Daniel…’ when the MP said, everyone could be seen nodding in approval.
Attempts to disrupt
Everyone who does not support this protest is doing everything they can to disrupt the protest at this time. Sarath Fonseka said that we should do this with anticipation of that.
Accordingly, Sajith sent part of his MP team to the Elphinstone theater premises. By 2.15 pm, Sajith left the opposition leader’s office to join the protest.
Sajith got down from the vehicle near the Maradana railway station and from then on walked with the protesters. Although the march that started near the Elphinstone Theater in Colombo was supposed to go to Fort Railway Station, the government had already deployed huge police forces to block it. Exactly 50 meters from the technical junction, the protest march was stopped by police barricades.
Sajith and many others tried to make the protestors to sit down facing the police. But in the meantime, a suspicious group came to the place and said that they should go to a confrontation with the police. But Sajith objected.
Peaceful demonstration
We have no conflict with the security forces here but with the government. So let’s settle the deal with the government…’ Sajith kindly explained to the group.
‘Sir, there are people who have been sent by the government in several places. They have planned the work in such a way that there will be opposition to our protest. Even though they behave like our people, they are not ours, they belong to the government…’ When an organizer told Sajith in his ear, Sajith also realized that a gang was planning to create trouble.
Stage on a lorry
Meanwhile, Sajith boarded a lorry carrying the protesters along with the organizers. But even then, there were too many people on the deck of the lorry.
‘Let’s get off this. Sajith said to Dayasiri who was standing next to him that if this breaks, it could be a danger to the people around him and got off the lorry with him.
Meanwhile, it was seen how the protestors started shouting at the police and a suspicious person was seen shouting that ‘the opposition leader is running away’.
‘He is not running away. He got down because there was not enough space on the deck…’ but Mujibur who heard it shouted, but a suspicious group inside the protest was seen shouting continuously.
Govt. media response
As Mujibar had said, Sajith came near the protestors and stayed for a long time.
However, the most significant happening was not only the government’s media, but also many of the private media that are with the government, websites and social media networks also published the same kind of news that Sajith was booed during the protest. We found out this news has generated from the same source to all these channels.
UNP getting excited
The UNP also seemed to be excited a statement made by its General Secretary Range Bandara said that Sajith and others were protested during the protest. He said that this is a disgrace to the position of the opposition leader and that the opposition leader should resign immediately.
Mujibar Rahman answered Range’s statement.
The Secretary General of the party of a person who lost thirty elections, got a seat in the national list, won the presidency as a chance such a shameless person asks the leader of the opposition to resign. Even the man who said this failed to win a seat in the Parliament…’ Mujibur had replied.
Accordingly, several press conferences were held to reveal the true incident of the protest to the country the next day. Ranjith Maddumabandara, Mujibur Rahman, Duminda Nagamuwa, Joseph Stalin who were among the people who organized the protest said clearly that the government and various people with the government were behind this incident.
Sajith donating two buses
The next day, Sajith donated two buses to two schools. He also commented on the situation of the previous day’s protest there.
He said that he will unite all forces and fight against the repressive reactionary government, which is pushing the people of the country to their deathbeds, and through that, the country will achieve victories.
Sajith said that the government is going on a reckless journey by oppressing the youth of the country and people’s lives, and said that he will fight against it.
He also said that no one can violate the right to protest and move freely, said that he set an example by conducting a peaceful and civilized protest.
Thondaman’s strong hold
The plantation is generally regarded as the political empire of the Thondaman dynasty. Its founding member was Soumyamurthy Thondaman. Since then, he was such a powerful figure in the plantation that Thondaman was an indispensable figure in the formation of governments in the south. That’s why Thondaman was known in the country as the ‘king maker’ of the south. At that time, there was no character who could challenge Thondaman in the plantation.
After Thondaman’s death, none other than Thondaman’s son Arumugam Thondaman took over the political power of the plantation. Arumugam Thondamanda took his father’s political strength and built several governments in the south. This is why no political figure emerged in the plantation to challenge Arumugam Thondaman during his early years. But during the last days of Thondaman, a political figure emerged to challenge the political empire of the Thondamans in the plantation.
challenge to political empire in the plantation
That is Palani Digambaram. As the name suggests, Digambaram not only challenged the political empire of the Thondamans within a very short period of time, but for the first time ended the role of the ‘king maker’ of the Thondamans and took steps to establish governments in the south without the Thondamans. That is by establishing the good governance government in 2015. Accordingly, the plantation was politically divided from then on. The Thondamans and the Digambarams became political enemies and the Thondamans played politics with the Rajapaksas and the Digambarams with the Sajith team. When the Thondamans formed governments, the Digambarams went into opposition. When the Digambarams formed governments, the Thondamans went into opposition.
Digambaram – Thondaman unity
However, last week a strong figure of the opposition took the leadership to end this political direction that has been going on for many years. It is none other than the opposition leader Mr. Sajith Premadasa. Last week, Sajith visited plantations for the inauguration of a party office of his political ally Digambaram, where Jeevan Thondaman, who was Digambaram’s political rival, was also invited. Accordingly, Digambaram had invited Jeevan to attend the event. The most special event witnessed here was that Jeevan took steps to accept the invitation leaving aside the old political conflicts.
Indian HC visit planation
Apart from this, another special person was also present on this occasion. It is Mr. Gopal Bagle, the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. Accordingly, at the opening of the political office of Sajith, Digambaram, Tamil leaders Mano Ganesan, Digambaram, Jeevan Thondaman and Gopal Bagle were seen standing in a row. Many had introduced it as a political upheaval in the plantation.
However, a former senior minister loyal to Mahinda, who was surprised when the photos of all the political figures of the plantation with Sajith appeared in the media, made a phone call to Digambaram and took steps to inquire about this.
Former minister worried
‘What the hell has happened? You and Thondaman have always been on opposite sides of politics. When the former minister asked how did both of them come together on the same stage with Sajith, Digambaram could be seen smiling and answering.
‘No, we used to fight. Jeevan is not such a person. Jeevan is someone who grew up in a new way of thinking. We can work together with Jeevan. Both of us are trying to do something for our people. Now the chance has come…’ was Digambaram’s answer.
However, this former senior minister, who was extremely surprised by Digambaram’s answer, went to meet former President Mahinda Rajapaksa the very next day inform Mahinda of this news. He said that the plantation is now ready to forget old habits and get together.
IMF negotiations
In view of the acute economic crisis that has arisen in the country, the government sought the help of the International Monetary Fund about 6 months ago. The initiative was taken by Mr. Ali Sabri, who was the then Minister of Finance, Mr. Siriwardena, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and Mr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank. There, these three went to the head office of the International Monetary Fund in Washington, USA and took steps to hand over the related documents.
Dr Nandalal’s December dead line?
Accordingly, about 3 months ago, a special team of the International Monetary Fund took steps to visit Sri Lanka. This group came to negotiate with the government authorities. After those discussions, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, who made a statement to the media, said that Sri Lanka will be able to receive the first installment of the financial fund by next December. The Sri Lankan media took steps to give a lot of publicity to Nandalal Kee’s story without any investigation or accountability. And not only the governor of the central bank but also the ministers of the government publicly said that the discussions of the financial fund were very successful, that Sri Lanka would receive the money before the end of this year, and after that the country’s economy would improve.
Mr. Peter Brewer’s statement come right?
However, even though the Governor of the Central Bank and the ministers of the government have said this, we have emphasized several times through the ‘rajya rahas’ column that Sri Lanka will not receive the money from the financial fund by the month of December. We mentioned there that it will take considerable time and that the government will have to fulfill a number of serious conditions. We have reported all that information based on highly reliable information that we have received through various sources.
Mr. Peter Brewer, who was the team leader of the Financial Fund who came to Sri Lanka to confirm the disclosure , summoned a press conference and said that the discussions regarding the granting of loans to Sri Lanka will continue, and it is not possible to state precisely when those discussions will end. Through Brewer’s statement, our statement was not only confirmed, but the statements made by Nandalal and other ministers of the government were deem to be false.
Is debt restructuring haunting SL
In addition to this, the Financial Fund also presented another serious condition to Sri Lanka. It is said that in order to provide loans to Sri Lanka, China and India, who were the main creditors of Sri Lanka, should work to restructure their debts. At that time, many people mentioned that the financial fund had presented a proposal similar to asking for seven pattas of konduru oil and a little more for the treatment that was not done. The reason for that was because China had not entered into any debt restructuring program with any country in its lending history.
Ranil’s siyabalanduwa statement
In spite of this, two weeks ago, President Ranil Wickramasinghe went to a farm in Siambalandu and sat down with small children to make a special statement regarding the debt restructuring negotiations. The president said that he had a telephone conversation with the Chinese Finance Minister, where he discussed debt restructuring, and that the discussions were successful. Accordingly, the president also gave some indication that loan assistance will be received from the International Monetary Fund very soon, and it was also seen that a lot of publicity was given to it by the media.
However, last week we made a special disclosure through this channel and took steps to point out the truth and falsity of the president’s statement. We quoted the Chinese Ambassador to this country, Mr. Kei Shen Hong, who said that the Chinese Embassy had arranged this telephone conversation due to a continuous request from the government, and that the Chinese Minister of Finance had not made any statement regarding debt restructuring. Accordingly, it was confirmed that the statement made by the president was also a half-truth.
Firing of FM Liu kun
Also, although it was said that the Chinese Embassy intervened to hold this telephone conversation, the latest information we have received says that several businessmen who have close relations with the government as well as the Chinese Finance Minister have been behind the scenes in organizing this discussion. However, the Chinese Finance Minister was not allowed to work in his position even for two weeks after discussing with the President over the phone. This is due to Mr. Xi Jinping, who was elected as the President of China for the third time, removing Mr. Liu Kun, who was the Minister of Finance until then, removed from that position and appointed a new Minister of Finance.
Indian credit restructure
It has now been seen that when China deals with Sri Lanka in this way, the behavior of India, the next main creditor of Sri Lanka, has taken a similar turn. We made a special disclosure about this last week and said that even though more than 4 months have passed since the President took office, the country has not yet issued an official invitation to the President to visit India. We also pointed out that although the government has taken steps to make demands in this regard on many occasions, there has not been a good response from India. It is for this reason that Mr. Milind Moragoda, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, had joined this mission last week and that he had started discussions to organize a discussion between Modi and Ranil by utilizing his personal relationships.
Accordingly, we are disclosing this time about the progress of these negotiations. The information we are receiving from India says that Milind’s efforts have also failed so far. That is to say that although Milind has tried to get time for the relevant discussions using various contacts, no positive response has been received from the Indian side.
Sagala’s visit to India
Accordingly, with this situation being reported, last week, the government took steps to implement another brand new operation ‘secretly’. That is the sudden visit of Mr. Sagala Ratnayake, an advisor to the President, to New Delhi. We mentioned this as a clandestine visit due to the fact that Sagala’s trip to New Delhi was not made, at least from the side of the government or from the side of India. At least the Indian High Commissioner Milind Moragoda was not aware that Sagala was coming to New Delhi.
Accordingly, during his emergency trip to New Delhi, Sagala has taken steps to discuss with a number of high-ranking officials including Indian Foreign Secretary Mr. Vinay Mohan Kwatra. In these discussions, the topics of India’s debt restructuring and getting time from Modi to meet the President have also been discussed, but India has not received a clear answer to both of them, according to ‘State Secrets’.
Milinda’s displeasure
However, a new crisis has been created by Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, Milinda because Sagala, holding these talks avoiding Milinda and he is deeply disappointed due to the discussions being conducted without his knowledge. Accordingly, Milinda has now decided to resign from the post of Indian High Commissioner. In any case, Milinda had planned to resign from this position some time ago but the decision will be advanced due to Sagala’s incident. Accordingly, the news is that in a few days, Milinda will come to Sri Lanka by biding farewell to his position as High Commissioner.
China’s debt restructuring
In the meantime, confirming the disclosures we have made so far, the President announced in a meeting with the tea industry owners for the first time that since the debt restructuring talks with China and India have not yet been completed, the receipt of loans from the financial fund will be delayed until the first month of next year.
Although the President mentioned this, the information we have says that the financial fund will take more time to confirm whether the money will be given. Otherwise, those discussions will drag on until April, May, June next year. Regardless of what the President has mentioned outside, the information we have further says that the President has stated in the discussions within the government that he cannot give a guarantee about it. Also, it is news to the ‘Rajya rahas’ column that China has not presented a good response in debt restructuring so far.
New operation by Pohottuwa
While the situation on the side of the government is like this, the situation on the side of Pohottuwa, the main stakeholder of the government, is no different. We say this because Pohottuwa has started another new operation within the government. That operation has been led by none other than S.B.Dissanayake, a senior from Pohottuwa. Accordingly, SB, in talks with a group of seniors in Pohottuwa for the past two weeks, has taken steps to discuss the next steps to be taken as a party in the budget for the year 2023 to be presented this month.
Urge for a cabinet reshuffle
Here, many MPs have pointed out that many people who came from Pohottu are working together with the President as ministers and even going beyond the decisions of the party, and strict action should be taken against them. In particular, many MPs have pointed out that even though ministers like Nimal Siripala represent other parties, they are also MPs who came to Parliament under the Pohottuwa symbol, and now they are doing politics purely for personal gain. Accordingly, it was the position of many that a strict decision should be taken regarding them in the budget. Accordingly, the group finally decided to defeat the budget heads of the ministers who work outside the party. There, the names of several ministers were mentioned and the reasons for defeating their budget heads were presented one by one.
SBs new role
However, another special decision was also taken here. That is to avoid defeating the entire budget but defeat the budget heads of the ministers due to the severe economic crisis that has emerged in the country. It may have been seen that SB’s aim was to show the power of the pohottuwa through that. It is also known that the team has sent several messages to the government in this regard. There, they have informed the government to carry out an reshuffle of the cabinet immediately before the budget, otherwise there may be many upheavals in the budget. Accordingly, SB will decide in the next few days whether they will vote against it or abstain from voting in the budget headings of the said ministers.
By Special correspondent