The National Bhikkhu Front (NBF) explained that they would be supporting the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) at the General Election and called on all to elevate the JVP to a status of power beyond the main Opposition and being its Leader.
Secretary of the NBF Ven. Wakamulle Uditha Thera said that in arriving at the said decision, their civil society organization had looked at three criterion primarily revolving round whom the three main political parties, namely, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) led United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the United National Party (UNP) led United National Front for Good Governance and the JVP, had nominated as candidates for the Parliamentary Election and the attention and care paid to the process of nominating by Party General Secretaries, their nominees for the National List and their Manifestos, outlining their vision, policies and programmes for governing the country for the next five years, on which the people had to place their trust and faith.
There is no point at all in talking about the SLFP led UPFA as it would constitute an absolute, total, and utter waste of time, he added, noting that the nomination list of the UPFA was not fit for the Parliament but fit for prison.
- “The UPFA has no female representation or contribution.
- Nomination for one candidate was signed in prison where the candidate was remanded on charges of murder.
- The group led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa dragged the country to destruction and darkness by causing grievous harm.
- There are drug dealers, bootleggers, the corrupt, those who take commissions, contractors, thieves, those who engage in child abuse and rapists.
- The UPFA’s MPs will only use their Member of Parliament status as a license to further engage in such dastardly practices
Of course the UPFA Manifesto states that they want to start anew and afresh. This is because they killed the society by destroying media freedom, resources, the Parliament, the Constitution, National and Religious reconciliation. The UPFA’s MPs will only use their Member of Parliament status as a license to further engage in such dastardly practices. The UPFA cannot breathe life to the country,” he observed.
The UNP today is a weak UNP, he remarked, adding that the UNP’s National List was based on keeping their own including family relatives close to them, and was comprised of the old, those who cannot function as politicians and those who cannot contest and win.
“The UNP cannot practically implement the fivefold development plan for a new country. After the open economy was introduced by former President J. R. Jayewardene, and after that through the Mahaweli Project, they could have developed the economy back then. Yet, they have only displayed that they cannot do so despite boasting that they possessed the domestic and international capitalist class in the palm of their hands. Even though there is a percentage of difference between the UNP and the UPFA we are not at all satisfied with the UNP,” Uditha Thera mentioned.
JVP’s ‘Accord of Conscience’…
He added that although the NBF had directly worked to bring Rajapaksa to power in 2005, and indirectly supported President Maithripala Sirisena to defeat Rajapaksa in 2015, this was the first time that they had come out directly supporting a Party, the JVP.
“The intelligent and the educated and religious leaders like the Mahanayakes of the Chapters and National Movement for Social Justice Leader Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera have all praised the JVP. There is not one drug dealer, bootlegger or anyone involved in corruption. In 17 districts, candidates have degrees and special degrees. Their National List is the only mature one with gender balance and is complete with lawyers, doctors, accountants, auditors, business folk, artistes, and academics. One can trust in and have faith in their Manifesto, the Accord of Conscience.
They should be given power as the nation is at the lowest ebb and there is no way for us now. We cannot drown any further. The future of the country and the lives of its over 20 million people are rested upon 225 MPs, people’s representatives who should be responsible, educated, intelligent, and skilled,” he said.
Chairman of the NBF Ven. Handugala Rathanapala Thera noted that it was very evident that the UPFA had spent public funds at the last Presidential Election on giving people bribes, as they were presently incapable of distributing goods at the same rate and feeding supporters at all night dansals.
“Rajapaksa operated on a family rule and personal agenda. UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe attempted to privatize and commoditize education during his tenure as a minister. He westernized the country. Whatever policies the UNP may have, their practice is contrary. The JVP should be given more representation and they can even join with others once in Parliament. The National Government is a good concept but there is nothing new that the SLFP and UNP can do by joining forces. The SLFP is not a leftist Party. There is nothing to study in the UPFA’s Manifesto as their nominees for candidacy are a reflection of the Manifesto’s content. If the JVP is voted into power, the issue faced by Sirisena in appointing the Prime Minister will not arise,” he opined.