Wimal charges SLMC, TNA wanted separate administrative districts, greater autonomy

Wednesday, 31 December 2014 01:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

AsPresident Mahinda Rajapaksa did not agree to grant the demands of both theTamil National Alliance (TNA) and Sri Lanka MuslimCongress (SLMC) to carve out separate administrative districts for the Muslims and greater autonomyto Tamils of the north, they have joined hands with the Common Opposition Candidate Maithripala Sirisena, said Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common AmenitiesMinister Wimal Weerawansa.

Addressing a political rally at Wattegama, Weerawansa said that SLMC Leader RauffHakkemjoinedthe ranks of the common candidateas the common Opposition had agreedtothe SLMC demand for a separate administrative unitin the Eastern Province. “The President will not agree to demands that would be very detrimental to the wellbeing of the country and whichever leads to the separation of the country. The President values the unitary state of the country than agreeing to demands with a view to get the votes of the separatists,” he added. “The UNPers in villages do not want to see thatthey cast their votes to make Chandrika achieve her plans. They want to see the elephant win at the election.But unfortunately they will not have the opportunity of casting their votes for the elephant asthe UNP isnot contesting under the elephant symbol. As the genuine UNPers do not wish to see Chnadrika win, UNPers along with General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and Chitra Manthilleke and a host of others have joined the UPFA to ensure a tremendous victory to the President to govern the destiny of this country for a further period of time,” he added. Minister Weerawansa recalled that late Ranasinghe Premadasa contested at thepresidential election having successfully implemented the Gam Udawa project but “Lady Sorbonne” came to power laterboasting about theBandaranaike heritage. Hepointed out that the commonOpposition candidate had nothing to offer other than to say“I could not dothis, I could not do that, I was not allowed to do this and that”. He added that the people in the country should elect a charismatic leader who could face any challengesuccessfully. Making reference to themanifesto of the common candidate, Weerawansa observed that the manifesto said nothing about the unitary character of the country. He questioned why the common Opposition candidate did not include in themanifesto their position with regard to the country liberated from the clutches of the terrorists by heroessacrificing theirprecious lives and limbs.