News
A cross section of society has this to say
View(s):With the country’s political situation in constant flux, the Sunday Times spoke to a cross section of the public to ascertain their views.
Ali Mohamad Kumaran
Many were of the view that irrespective of who governs the country, what is required is a strong government with a stable leadership that serves the public best.
Ali Mohamad Kumaran (38), a resident of Maligawatte, said the people of the country are uncertain as to who is currently leading the country.
“Due to this confusion government officers are unable to help the common citizen as the decisions of the former ministers and newly appointed ministers could clash.”
S. Niroshan, a UNP supporter, said the UNP was facing this situation due to the action of the party’s leadership. He said if the UNP leadership changed, the party could come back to power.
He said they voted for the UNP government to take action against corrupt ministers of the previous government; yet the “Yahapalana” government (especially the UNP) instead of taking action against corruption engaged in corruption.
As a result, he said, he would no longer vote for the UNP but would vote for the JVP instead.
Sandya Kumari from Kandy said that she is happy that the former president had been appointed as the Prime Minister. She said that she believes that the President had listened to the voice of the people and decided to take action.
She was happy that the newly appointed Prime Minister had already reduced the taxes and brought down the price of fuel.
S. Niroshan
Sandya Kumari
Gihan Karunaratne
“People-friendly politicians must come into power, only they know the hardships of the people,” she said.
Gihan Karunaratne, an employee of a private company, said, regardless of the constitution, the people wished for a prime minister who would serve the people.
He said he is happy to see the appointment of a new prime minster and cabinet since the deposed Prime Minister sold government property to a foreign country and was also the mastermind behind the Bond scam.
He said, however, the newly appointed politicos would also need to change their ways and lead non-corrupt lives.
Some labourers and street sweepers who earn a daily daily wage said the change of government made no difference to them as all governments neglected them. They said they only see a change of faces but the actions of all ministers are basically the same.
J. Jude, an employee of a private cleaning company, said he earns Rs. 850 a day and spends a lot of money to reach his home in Kalutara. He said he has been sweeping the roads for four years and he is yet to receive any support from politicians.
“Some politicians betray the people who voted for them by crossing over for millions of bucks while others betray the very politicians who helped them come to power. In a way I am proud, even if I just clean pavements and roads I don’t stoop that low,” he said.
Dhanapala Dayaratna from Kalutara said that he had arrived in Colombo and stayed for about four hours at the Temple Tress premises to protect Ranil Wickremesinghe.
J. Jude
He condemned the actions of President Maithripala Sirisena.
“We did not know that President Sirisena would take such an action. We the UNP party supporters elected him, but this is how he shows his gratitude to us,” he said.
He said the party leader, the deposed prime minister never said a vengeful word against the president even after he made a speech attacking the UNP.
He called on the President to reconvene Parliament and show that Mr Rajapaksa had a majority in parliament.
“We are not angry with Mr. Rajapaksa,. He did not betray us but the President that we appointed did,” he said.
Rosemary Chako (49) said that the President has joined with his nemesis and is digging his own grave by attacking his supporters.
“The man who said that he would have been six feet under if Rajapaksa had come to power, appoints him back just to attack our leader. This change is a joke, is this democracy? We need parliament to be reconvened or an election,” she said.