Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday said the country should not be allowed to fall prey to the trials of extremist experiments as the country was freed from the shackles of isolation to promote friendship with international communities.
“Let’s not victimise the country to extremist experiments since it has already become able to deal with the international community through friendship after getting out of isolation gradually,” Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said at the Water’s Edge hotel in Battaramulla yesterday.
The Prime Minister said this while attending the launching of Podujana Eksath Nidahas Peramuna, the broadest political alliance in the country, which has initiated with the aim of creating a new direction in Sri Lankan politics under the theme of “Combination of courage for a winning country.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Chairman of the new alliance together with its Secretary General, Minister Ramesh Pathirana, unveiled a logo of the new alliance “trophy”. Hereafter, agreements were signed with the leaders of other political parties who joined the new Alliance. Minister Prasanna Ranatunga representing the majority group of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, Secretary of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna Tissa Yapa Jayawardena, Minister Tiran Alles representing the United Peoples Party Minister Douglas Devananda representing the Eelam People’s Democratic Party, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, representing the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal Party, ALM Athaullah representing the National Congress, Arvind Kumar representing the United People’s Party, Azath Salley representing the National Unity Front and Sugath Hewawitharana representing the Deshapremi Janatha Balawegaya were signed agreements with the new political alliance.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena also said that this is a historic moment. Everyone here has continuously contributed to bring victory to the country amid challenges, and again are determined to secure the future. We are partners in the legacy that produced governments and state leaders. Gotabaya Rajapaksa was appointed as our President and Mahinda Rajapaksa as our Prime Minister by a biggest peoples mandate and won the majority power in the Parliament under their leadership. As parliamentarians, when we were fulfilling that great responsibility with an iron confidence given by the people of this country, our President and Prime Minister resigned due to the economic and political crisis prevailing at that time. That political and economic crisis transformed our country into social instability. After the covid pandemic, the world economy collapsed. Even today it has not recovered yet. The majority of the 134 members of the Parliament appointed Ranil Wickremesinghe as the President to lead the great challenge that arose in this.
Since the leadership of former Prime Minister D.S.Senanayake, who led the independence movement in Sri Lanka, there have been joint governments until today. Therefore, a shared government and political uniformity can only be achieved through consensus. To create that agreement, our MPs and all the MPs who are participating in the role of creating the new alliance came together. Former Provincial Council members, members of Parliament, leaders of local government authorities and our fellow public members joined it. We are working to turn President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s victory into a great victory to create the future Sri Lanka that you wish for.
We know that the parliament will be dissolved in the future. Therefore, we consider the creation of the Podujana Eksath Nidahas Peramuna as a new chapter in the history of this country so that the national and progressive forces can join hands with us. We have not taken a different path. We have taken a journey hand in hand with the common people in the national and progressive journey that this country must travel.
“We need everyone’s support and contribution for that. Two years ago, our country faced an unprecedented political crisis. To get out of that great crisis that was not faced even during the war, we have started this journey today with the new strength that we created by joining hands. In the last two years, we have seen the result that can be created in leading a country through working with discipline. Economic progress was born through discipline in a country that was anarchic and without governance.
“Through this alliance, we commit ourselves with determination to build a disciplined country. Determination is very important. Let’s listen to criticism and work with determination and dedication. Democracy has won in our country since the past. No matter what criticisms and threats there are, we have a motherland that has chosen regimes through people’s vote and decided on the paths the country should take. Only our country and India have that pride.
It is necessary to develop the country through a new programme based on parliamentary democracy and public trust. The new generation is looking at us at this juncture. We are going on this journey for that future generation. We have to work as a front to achieve the goals of social and development expected by the young generation. You and all of us committed ourselves to eradicating violence and protecting the democratic country with non-violence. It is with that heritage that this political journey can be carried forward.
“Through the intervention of the President in these two years, we were able to work with political parties, various investors and economic producers. That action is unique as it has rekindled the belief that a stable government can be led.This is a country that recovered from the crisis through difficult paths. This Presidential election is also very special for our front. Our alliance is committed to win the September 21 presidential election, moving forward as a stable government, and work hand in hand with all friendly parties and forces in every upcoming election.
Alliance General Secretary, Minister, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said one group is spreading lies today. “Another group is making false promises and telling jokes. We took the lead to free the people from this. We did not leave our party. However, the party left us. We didn’t even switch sides. We did not change our parties. We will not let anyone with us stranded. The trophy is the sign we win. We are contesting every election in the future. We are also contesting for the upcoming Elpitiya Provincial Council election. Therefore, we request all the people to leave the colour party differences and unite to rebuild the country,”he said.
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