(UTV|COLOMBO) – A recent opinion survey has revealed that nearly 57 per cent of the Sinhala-Buddhist population do not believe that the so-called ‘Sinhala Nationalist’ organisations possess the capability to safeguard the rights of the Sinhalese community in Sri Lanka, Legal Activist Shiral Lakthilaka told media yesterday (29).
The survey findings show that a mere 5 per cent of those surveyed believe that such self-proclaimed ‘Patriotic’ organisations as the Ravana Balaya, Mahason Balakaya, and Sihala Ravaya possess the capability to deliver their claim of safeguarding the rights of the Sinhalese community.
Lakthilaka was briefing the news media at the main campaign office of NDF presidential candidate Minister Sajith Premadasa in Vauxhall Street, Colombo.
An even smaller four percent believe that the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya led by MP Udaya Gammanpila and Jathika Nidahas Peramuna led by MP Wimal Weerawansa each have such a capability.
This survey had been conducted by a private firm with the participation of a sample of 2,600 government and private sector employees. Those surveyed were between the ages 18–65 years and were from Sinhala majority areas.
Explaining the survey results, Lakthilake said that though MP Gammanpila was criticizing the opinion and the behavior of Minister Premadasa from a nationalistic position, the real opinion the Sinhala-Buddhist community has of Gammanpila’s organization was not favourable and the people disbelieve its patriotic claims.
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