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| Sunday, 9 October 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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NSU pledges
unconditional support for Mahinda
by Deepal Warnakulasuriya New Sihala Urumaya (NSU) has decided to support the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) candidate Mahinda Rajapakse at the presidential polls without any conditions. NSU Leader and General Secretary Sarath Manamendra in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer stressed that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse was the only leader who could lead the country to a better future while securing the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country. Excerpts of the interview: Question: What made you form a new party called New Sihala Urumaya? Answer: Sihala Urumaya (SU) originated as a Sinhala National Movement with the intention of stabilising the identity and safeguarding the Sinhala nation and Buddhism. It also had a wider vision to involve itself in the burning issues of the country and tackle the problems of all the communities who live in the island.
SU's name and logo were changed eyeing more patriotic actions, but it was not successful. It was noted that the JHU shattered the hopes and aspirations of the people who voted for the party at the last elections. I was the Chief Organiser for Biyagama electorate and we felt that the party needed something new. NSU was the result of that thought. Question: Your party is only 10 months old. What about the party's organizational process? A: Well, the party is only just 10 months old but we were working for the last one and half years. We have already set up our bases in 12 districts. The districts are Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Kurunegala, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Ratnapura, Kegalle and Batticaloa. We also held our district committee meeting two weeks ago in Colombo and it was more successful than expected. We also have a membership of over one hundred thousand now. We have decided to visit villages with our message. Q: We heard that your party was going to support the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse at the forthcoming Presidential election. What was the reason for it? A: We, the party members and the supporters did a survey at a number of towns in three provinces; Western, Central and Southern. We wanted to find out who was the most popular and suitable candidate for the Presidency and it took 21 days. According to our survey 70 per cent of the people favoured Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and also believed he was the only leader who could prevent the division of the country. Q: Some of the parties which support the Premier at the election forwarded conditions. Do you also have any conditions to support him? A: No, we do not lay down any conditions. That is the faith we have in Mahinda Rajapakse; the only politician with clean hands. No one can challenge him. He is a person who feels the pulse of the working class and not a pretender like the UNP candidate. Most importantly the NSU Executive Committee took this decision because Mahinda Rajapakse is against separatism. Q: Once you were known as an active support of the UNP. Why did you leave the party? A: Yes, I was a member of the UNP. But I realized that the UNP does not represent the Sinhala Buddhist even in preserving our traditional culture. The westernized policies brought by the UNP leadership were not for the public. Most of the party members and supporters left Ranil Wickremesinghe as he was not a correct leader for the party. Under such circumstances it is useless talking about making him the leader of the country. Q: The UNP candidate has already presented his manifesto to the public. But the UPFA has still not come out with its manifesto. You had earlier said that your decision would be taken after going through the election manifestos. Was it a sudden decision to support the premier? A: No, actually it was not a sudden decision. As I told you earlier we took the decision depending on the survey we made in three provinces. The Executive Committee members were satisfied with the survey and the decision was taken. We studied both the parties and in that context the UNP had done minimal for the masses who suffer numerous difficulties. Take one simple example. The full amount which the UPFA regime spent to purchase paddy in one year, the UNP or UNP had not spent during all their regimes. Now they talk to cancel Samurdhi. The UNP is still unable to accept that Foreign Minister Kadirgamar was assassinated by the LTTE. I do not know how anyone can believe further more such a shameful party. Q: How will you assist the UPFA candidate at the campaign? A: Well, we have already had several discussions with government key Ministers and we have also planned to meet the Prime Minister soon. We will be organizing meetings as the NSU and also appearing on their platforms. Q: Do you have anything special to add before the conclusion of the interview? A: Yes, I should warn the general public over the selection of the country's leader. Are you going to vote for someone who does not have a sensitivity for the nation or a person with a clear understanding about the nation. I feel Ranil is going to put the country again in trouble. I noted that he wants to minimise the army regiments to six. As a retired Air Force technician, I know there are over 120 regiments in all in the Forces. Reducing those into six would affect the country's defence drastically. I think the UNP leader utters many things without knowing what he says.
Therefore I would like to appeal to the general public to take an
intelligent decision when selecting the next President of our motherland. |
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