(UTV|COLOMBO) – Communalists and religionists who shattered the economy and people’s hopes and aspirations will not be allowed to come to power and destroy the country once again. Investors who came here packed off and returned home due to the Rajapaksas’ dictatorial rule, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said.
He was addressing a youth conference at the Matara Uyanwatta playground recently.
Minister Samaraweera said even though we ended a cruel war, investors refused to come here and make any new investments because the Rajapaksa regime had tried to continue a dictatorship. On the pretext of a war situation, they also tried to entrench despotic family rule. They transformed the Parliament into a courthouse by night and unceremoniously sacked the Chief Justice. Journalists who were critical of the government were either tortured or killed. This denied the country of development and progress that was due after the war.
Democracy and peace should coexist in a country if it is to achieve progress. The law should be equally applicable to all. Investors do not sight this country when there are two separate laws – one for the emperor’s family and one for the rest of the country. Investors did not come here during the Rajapaksa rule because there were many more investor-friendly countries in the world at that time. If we are to develop the country, we should open it to the outside world and move along with the international fraternity.
The Rajapaksa regime was isolated from the outside world. The country had to close down industries and finally, we lost our fish exports to the European Union after losing the GSP relief. The government regained the GSP facility after assuming office.
He exhorted the youth present to be aware of these past wrongs. If you consider why we could not move forward as a country, you could learn many lessons, Minister Samaraweera said.
Today, countries like Singapore which lagged behind Sri Lanka in terms of development and progress in the past had surpassed it by leaps and bounds.
He said the communal issue transformed into a communal war due to the faults and shortcoming of politicians.
At this meeting, former Convenor of the Inter University Students’ Federation Mahil Bandara came on stage and expressed his support to NDF Presidential candidate Minister Sajith Premadasa.
Jathika Yovun Peramuna Vice President Namal Vijayamuni Soysa, Dilshan Pathirane, Welgama UC Chairman Rehan Jayawickreme and several others also spoke.
[alert color=”faebcc” icon=”fa-commenting”]Keeping up to date with breaking news while you are on the move is now simple with UTV Alerts [textmarker color=”8a6d3b”]Type REG UTV and send to 77000[/textmarker] on your Dialog, Airtel, or Hutch mobile connection[/alert]
