Mangala marches to hold ‘Yahapalanaya’

• In emotive statement reaches out to 2015 voters, recalls Rathupaswala, night races and repression by Rajapaksas that he insists ended in Jan. 2015 
• Calls on public to continue fight against authoritarianism and family rule
• Acknowledges slow progress but insists Govt. remains committed to change      
• Warns win at LG polls could create “inroads” that could have national impact 

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday sought to turn back the clock and reset a nation’s focus by recalling the repressive administration of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and urging the public to fight against its return by standing with liberty and democracy at the upcoming polls. 

Recollecting the illegal and suppressive policies of the former Government, Samaraweera recalled the shootings of Rathupaswala, the jailing and assassination of members of civil society and journalists, the night races and other colossal wastes of public funds. He also acknowledged that the Government had not accomplished all it set out to do but insisted that incremental change would continue under the present administration as the commitment to progressive change remained undimmed.       

“Electoral inroads made in this poll could be used to attempt to recapture national control at future elections. So while the forthcoming election may be a ‘little one’ it has national consequences that could reverberate for years to come, casting long shadows over the lives of Sri Lankans who have begun to live unfettered and free again today. Yes, perhaps we are not where we hoped to be by this time. But we will get there. Change is incremental, political systems are entrenched and sometimes immovable; but the will to change remains as strong as ever.” 

“With the Rajapaksa regime and its fellow barbarians at the gates once more, Sri Lanka is at another crossroads at this election. In a way, this makes the choice clearer for all those citizens who want liberty, democracy and peace. On 10 February the people will have to choose once more – will we continue the march to freedom or herald a return to fear?”

Samaraweera emphasised that the upcoming election would decide if democratic institutions and traditions, painstakingly rebuilt since January 2015, “will be torn down and laid to waste again.” He stressed it would be an election that would determine if Sri Lankans would “live free or under the yoke of fear, impunity and grotesque abuse of power by a single family and its henchmen.” 

“For this local government election on 10 February is much more than a regional contest to capture political power in urban and municipal precincts. It is an old regime’s first real attempt to recapture power and restore an old, corrupt and dictatorial order.” 

“Incumbency fatigue and the monumental challenges ahead of Sri Lanka as the country strives to march towards sustainable peace and prosperity weighs heavily on the 8 January constituency and the representatives elected to serve them. Disillusioned by the road ahead, which seems fraught with difficulty and the potential for lost opportunity, this constituency may waver.” 

Nonetheless, he advocated that the public should fight against what he termed the culture of extravagance, abuse of state property and state terror that he charged was trying to make a comeback at the 10 February local government election. 

“But I believe it is important to try and build on what has already been achieved and keep the window open for peace and change. I believe it is important to have a long memory. I believe it is important to be longsighted and clearheaded about the monumental choice facing all Sri Lankans at this crucial election. “