It was former President late J.R. Jayewardene who devolved power and gave citizenship to people who did not have a country of their own, New Left Front (NLF) leader Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne said.
He said the late President eradicated cast based discrimination that existed in the Sri Lankan political arena especially at elections. Addressing the media in Colombo yesterday he said that in the past there was a belief that only persons belonging to the ‘Govigama’ caste should be appointed as the country’s Prime Minister and the President. But former President J.R.Jayewardene appointed R.Premadasa as the Prime Minister and changed that belief. Although the former President was a dictator who introduced a dictatorial Constitution, he did these positive things.
According to Dr. Karunaratne, today President Maithripala Sirisena is the Executive President of Sri Lanka because he joined with UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. That is why the world accepted President Sirisena.
President Sirisena brought liberal ideology into the SLFP. Today the Government is existing on radical liberalism.
Dr. Karunaratne pointed out that Sri Lankan armed forces are not responsible for past crimes such as the murders of Pradeep Ekneligoda, Lasantha Wickramatunga, Raviraj and Thajudeen.
The responsibility has to be borne by the fascist elements. Carrying out orders within the legal limits is not a crime. Consorting with fascist elements is a crime and whoever did it should answer these questions.
War heroes never did it. Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka is only a victim of the fascist elements. It is very good that the police is questioning former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and he is responsible for war crimes in addition to other corruption and malpractices, he added.
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