Hon. Jagath Manuwarna

¶ 01 To those who try to do politics over the permanent disabilities and suffering of our people, we say: do not come to that politics again. If you had listened to the speech President Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivered at the Ranaviru commemoration the other day, you would understand. We do not want another war in this country. The innocent people of this country were the victims of the war — in the North as well as in the South. Therefore, if anyone still tries to stir up racism and nationalism to do politics, whether in the North or in the South, that must be stopped.

¶ 02 Think about the recent past. The LTTE war ended; the war in the North ended. Yet afterwards, what did some try again with their words? To re-ignite racism; to stir up chauvinism. If another war breaks out, they would welcome it, because their politics survives only on that.

¶ 03 Just the other day we saw attempts to bring back the old war-time politics out of the trash bin. We are saddened by that. None of us wants to see bloodshed in this country again for any reason. The entire people of this country feel the same. The verdicts the people have given us — at the Presidential Election, General Election and the recent Local Government Election — make this clear. We have ended that old racist, chauvinist, uncivil, coarse, and violent politics. We must understand this.

¶ 04 A Member who spoke earlier said we are trying to collect scraps to do politics. No. We said you are the ones trying to gather scraps and plaster them to raise your politics again. But let me tell you: those political projects built by gathering scraps have no life. Yes, some may wish to create alliances; that is not our path. We will not form coalitions. It is you who are trying to build impure alliances — remember that. Do not accuse us of collecting scraps for politics. Today, 159 of us are in Parliament. Perhaps the Opposition has forgotten that the other day our President, from the Government benches, challenged you: you have the opportunity to form a clear Opposition; do not be afraid of decisions; do not waver thinking someone will pressure you. Why? Because we do not need to gather the corrupt and the fraudulent. But you lack that ethics; you do not know to uphold political morals. History has proved it.

¶ 05 The Leader of the Opposition spoke a short while ago about organized crime. Did we politicize underworld crime? No. Do not speak as if you have forgotten history. Who gave island-wide “peace judge” authority to “Soththi Upali”? Your political forebears. Look at your parties’ histories. Who did politics with “Gonawila Sunil”? With “Julampitiye Amare”? With “Beddagana Sanjeewa”? When we point out revealed links between politicians and the underworld, why the agitation? If there is no link, stay calm. At the appropriate moment we will reveal it. The fear suggests there is a link; perhaps you are ensnared without realizing it. The people know this political history well — and who did politics hand-in-glove with gangsters, smugglers, and drug traffickers. It is precisely to end that uncivil politics that the people vested power in the National People’s Power — the Malimawa government. Keep that in mind when you try to build impure alliances by gathering scraps.

¶ 06 There is little difference between the villages and Colombo; yet in our villages people’s lives are stuck. Particularly, many village roads and canals are not built; there is no drinking water. Development projects were plundered. We will not allow those politicians who dragged people’s lives into misery to regain power through conspiracies. As the NPP — the Malimawa government — it is our duty to protect the people’s mandate given to us: not to return it, but to use it to solve people’s problems. With this Local Government mandate, we will work with those who can serve the people. By the end of this local council term, our villages should not be without drinking water, roads, or bus services. These are solvable if there is will. Those who ruled earlier did not have that will — neither in Parliament nor in the village-level “scrap alliances”. Whatever way they come back, they have no right to work against this mandate.

¶ 07 We assure the people that we will continue our politics protecting the mandate you gave us to build your future, giving it value and honour. I conclude. Thank you.