Gammanpila makes a U-turn; pledges support to MR

Friday, 12 December 2014 04:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Chamitha Kuruppu Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Deputy General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila yesterday rejoined the Government and pledged his support to Mahinda Rajapaksa at the upcoming presidential elections. Addressing a media briefing at the SLFP headquarters, Gammanpila said he would resign from the JHU and become a member of the SLFP. The move comes just three weeks after he quit his ministerial portfolio in the Western Provincial Council and withdrew from the Government. “My party has treated me well. My crossover was based on a policy decision,” Gammanpila pointed out, adding: “It was a painful decision. This party was built with hardship and difficulty. I love and respect my party but I love my country more.” Gammanpila revealed that his displeasure working with Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga was one of the main reasons behind his decision to resign from the JHU. “I admit there is a question about good governance. We have fought with this Government for the last two years over this matter. Unfortunately the JHU has allied itself with partners that once detested it. We never accepted Chandrika Kumaratunga and Ranil Wickremesinghe as good rulers. Are we trying to restore democracy with Ranil Wickremesinghe who has forcefully remained as the leader of the UNP for the last 20 years?” he asked.

According to Gammanpila, the JHU held the stance that the executive presidency should be amended and continued. Legal experts such as S.L. Gunesekera and Chulananda Silva, who were also instrumental in forming the JHU, have pointed out that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and the executive presidency are interconnected therefore abolishing the executive presidency would only result in the country’s division. “All the parties that support Maithripala Sirisena have agreed to abolish the executive presidency and divide this country. It is only the JHU which says the executive presidency should be amended and continued,” he said. Gammanpila added: “On 1 December, Maithripala signed an agreement with the UNP pledging to abolish the executive presidency within 100 days. On the same day he signs another agreement with the JHU promising to make required amendments to the executive presidency. Are we to believe that the future president is unable to understand the difference between these two agreements? He is making false promises to either the JHU or the UNP. Sirisena is answerable to his allies as to whom he is making these false promises to. “People cross over when they are losing power. But my problem is that I am worried Maithripala Sirisena might win.” Senior SLFP members Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Dullas Alahapperuma, Wimal Weerawansa and Reginald Cooray were also present at the press conference. Minister Weerawansa told reporters that the only force which could take the country forward was President Mahinda Rajapaksa. “He has freed this country from a thirty-year war, completed massive development projects and taken this country forward. There may be flaws but Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only force which can take the country forward,” he stated. Commending Gammanpila’s decision to rejoin the Government, Weerawansa said: “Gammanpila’s move will strengthen the national forces that are committed to helping the country progress.” Reginald Cooray said: “We have all had our problems. Wimal Weerawansa, Gammanpila and many others, including myself, have had issues with the Government. But we don’t see any other alternative to this President. Therefore we will strengthen him and work for his victory.”