Mangala wows to carry on with 'new journey'

By Isuri Kaviratne

Former Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday strongly rejected allegations levelled against him by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and government members and vowed to carry on with what he called his 'new journey'.

Speaking at the first public ceremony after being removed from the Cabinet two weeks ago, Mr. Samaraweera said, "This is not the end of the journey. I started at the last row in parliament and I've been pushed back to that place again. I have strength to start a new journey again".

A ceremony to mark Mr. Samaraweera's 18th year in politics was organized at the Matara Uyanwatta stadium.

Mr. Samaraweera said attempts were being made to prevent newspapers and television stations from giving him publicity.

"The commando unit I had for security too had been transferred to Jaffna for no reason, simply for being my guards which they cannot help", he added.

He denied allegations that he skipped the emergency debate in parliament, as accused by the party, saying, "I did not skip the session. I was there from the morning but had to go to Temple Trees for another meeting. I met Maithripala Sirisena at the entrance when I was leaving and told him where I was going. Though now he says that I didn't try to contact him, he is the one who didn't come to the meeting we arranged for later on".

Mr. Samaraweera said he was not influenced by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga as claimed by sections.

"I simply cannot forget what Chandrika did for the country and for Matara when she was President. But I didn't agree with her decisions all the time. I decided to support Mahinda Rajapaksa in the same way".

The former Minister also dismissed reports that he was demanding the Prime Ministerial post and said that when Mr. Rajapaksa had offered it to him earlier he had rejected it saying he was satisfied with the ministry he held.

At the end of the meeting Mr. Samaraweera inquired from the crowd whether he should follow Mr. Anura Bandaranaike and join the government and the crowd responded saying "no".

Ousted former non-Cabinet Minister Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi also spoke.