Citizen’s struggle not possible with spineless leaders: Tilvin

• Says NPP avoided protest as it does not wish to stand with weak-willed leaders.
• Slams Sajith Premadasa for attempting to hijack protest to emerge as a leader of the people. 
• Calls Premadasa a policyless leader who is unable to take straightforward decisions. 

The leftist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva says it is impossible to carry out an ‘Aragalaya’ or citizen’s struggle together with spineless leaders.  “Some are slamming the National People’s Power for not taking part in the protest held on 2 November. Yes, we decided against attending as it is not possible for us to stand with weak-willed leaders,” he said. 

Silva was responding to questions posed by the media on criticisms levelled against the party for not attending the anti-government protest march held on Wednesday. 

Many other opposition parties including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Frontline Socialist Party and the Tamil National Alliance had expressed their support to the march with some political leaders representing them attending the protest. 

Slamming opposition leader Sajith Premadasa who took centre stage at the protest, Silva said Premadasa is incapable of taking straightforward decisions. 

“He cannot even oppose a parliamentary bill or make decisive decisions in parliament,” Silva said. 

“Sajith is weak-willed. He has no policy. He cannot take any decision in parliament. Will a person of this calibre do anything for democracy? When the situation gives rise to a common struggle, he attempts to hijack it and emerge as a leader of the people. 

“There are those who allow for this as well. Some have slammed the NPP for not attending the protest. Yes, we chose to not attend. We do not believe we can achieve any democratic wins with such a group,” he added.