Susil implies he was sacked for saying Govt.’s agri policies have “failed”

Veteran politician Susil Premajayantha implied yesterday that his comments on the failure of the Government’s agriculture policies leading to soaring prices of vegetables as the reason why he was

Susil Premajayantha

sacked from the State Ministerial post.

During a visit to the weekly ‘pola’ on Sunday, media inquired from him about the rising cost of vegetables, and Premajayantha responded by saying it is because of the “complete failure of the agriculture” and the "failure of policies" taken.

“I spoke on behalf of the people who are the voters,” said Premajayantha, who was the State Minister of Education Reforms, Open Universities and Distance Learning Promotion.

He said the sacking will be a blessing for the remainder of his political career having started as Deputy Chairman of Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Urban Council in 1991, Chief Minister of Western Province in 1995, and thereafter, as the General Secretary of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) wining many elections and three Presidents.

He said that there was no regret over his sacking, which he got to know via the media. However, he opined the President and the Government must seriously reconsider some of the other contentious and damaging decisions made. An Attorney-at-Law by profession, Premajayantha said he hopes to return to his practice. 

Main Opposition SJB Parliamentarian S.M. Marrikar, during a media briefing yesterday, said sacking an elected MP from his State Ministerial portfolio was “undemocratic and unfair.”  

He alleged that the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) doesn’t respect the Right to the Freedom of Speech, and urged Premajayantha to continue his fight for his people by joining the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

When questioned why the President hadn’t sacked Cabinet Ministers Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila and Vasudeva Nanayakkara for dissenting and filing legal action against the Government's decision on the Yugadanavi-US New Fortress Energy agreement, Marrikar claimed the trio don’t demonstrate they are truly standing up for the rights of the people, and that is why they survive and the SJB wasn't extending an invitation for them to join.