Govt. failed to adopt Sobitha Thero’s vision of Yahapalanaya: Activists

By Chamodi Gunawardana

The National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) and Purawesi Balaya (Citizens’ Power) yesterday blamed the Government for failing to carry forward the Yahapalana vision of late Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero despite pledging to do so. 

Addressing a huge gathering at the seminar themed ‘Is this the Good Governance promised on 8 January?’ organised by those two societies, NMSJ Convener Sarath Wijesuriya alleged the ‘so called good governance’ has been running the country without a defined agenda. 

“When Sobitha Thero outlined his list of ten proposals, the President and the Prime Minister promised to implement them. However those promises have not been met so far,” he charged.

Wijesuriya added even the promise made by President Maithripala Sirisena at Sobitha Theor’s funeral to abolish the executive presidency had not been fully met. 

“The corrupt officials who spoilt the Rajapaksa regime have been replaced as ‘unofficial advisers’ of President Sirisena. We believe they are preventing the President from implementation of positive measures,” he claimed.

Wijesuriya also criticised President Sirisena for allegedly head hunting selected opposition MPs by offering ministerial portfolios to them.

“Now those corrupt ministers are tried to conceal their frauds and crimes by the wrap of Parliamentary privileges,” he alleged. 

Wijesuriya further demanded the Government should hold unbiased probes over fraudulent activities corrupt administrators regardless of their position. 

Meanwhile, a tension situation was occurred at the beginning of the event when the organisers started the seminar without paying respects to Sobitha Thero. 

Attendees blamed organisers for not conducting a minute of silence to commemorate Sobitha Thero. 

Organisers said they had planned to observe a silence after the event.