(UTV|COLOMBO) – Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka will be the Defence Minister of the New Democratic Front (NDF) Government formed after the forthcoming Presidential Election as he is the most suitable person to handle the country’s defence establishment, Power, Energy and Business Development Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.
The Minister was addressing a workshop organised by the Liberal Youth Forum held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI), Colombo.
“We have made this decision considering his high competency and experience in handling security after leading the war against terrorism from the front-line,” he said.
Minister Karunanayake said when Field Marshal Fonseka was instrumental in winning the war after facing and surviving terrorist bomb attacks, others who were safely ensconced inside air-conditioned rooms in Colombo during the war period were trying to take credit for the war victory.
He said the present government ruled the country for the last five years and asked whether the country experienced any difficulties during that period.
He said the United National Party (UNP) would never destroy the security provided for the country by the Constitution introduced by the late President J.R. Jayewardene. The two options before the people today are to decide either to protect and safeguard democracy through a UNP-led government or to protect family rule and lead the country towards retrogression.
He said no other government would be able to bring about the colossal amount of development work and progress ushered in by the present government during the last five years.
The Minister said the Rajapaksa regime had bequeathed an economically-bankrupt country to them in 2015. The government, after it took over in 2015, performed a large amount of work under its 100-day programme.
He said out of the 100 pledges given to the people, they were able to fulfil 88 by the end of the 100 days. However, thereafter the progress slowed down as they were in a coalition government. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who could not increase state sector salaries during the 11 years of rule is now promising to decrease Value Added Tax to eight percent.
“Although the pledges given by the Opposition were restricted to mere words, the UNP had transformed its pledges to deeds of the action. The UNP had a duty to protect the people while the Opposition only tried to protect a family,” he said.
He said people would be able to understand the true situation if the two leading candidates come for a one-to-one open debate and pit their policies and visions against each other.
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