Dinesh pledges good governance

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

Leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) and former Minister Dinesh Gunawardena a United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) victory at the August Parliamentary Elections would secure the return of good governance and effective democracy.

Responding to criticisms about former President Mahinda Rajapaksa favouring relatives and friends during his tenure, Gunawardena said the opponents have not been able give credibility to any of the accusation, except exposing their own debacles. “Let the people judge,” he said, pointing out that political opponents criticising a former president is expected in a democratic environment.

“But he is the only president who was able to defeat terrorism – protecting the unitary state. He brought back the victories of economic development,” Gunawardena pointed out.

A constituent party of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the MEP will be contesting in seven districts - Colombo, Gampaha, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Digamadulla and Hambantota. Gunawardena said the focus of the MEP policies will be on correcting the setbacks of the country’s economy, youth empowerment and enhancing powers entrusted with the local governments. “Establishing electoral reforms, an executive committee system for the Parliament need to happen soon,” he added.

Confident about the former president gaining huge public support and leading the UPFA to victory, Gunawardena, in a brief interview, acknowledged that the mistakes done in the past needed to be corrected and assured further mistakes or abuses would not be tolerated under the new UPFA manifesto.