5.2.2008
The
duty of a government is to unite people and weaken the
forces that are against it. But If a government supports
ethnic, religion and cast biases, the identity of Sri
Lanka will be marred, said UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe
addressing the UNP Independence Day celebrations held
in Kandy yesterday.
"One
group is articulating the need of a separate state while
another group says the country belongs only to them. If
people are looked upon as races and religions and if they
are arrested on those bases, our unity and identity will
be lost. Only our cricket team is safeguarding our unity
and the identity," said the UNP leader.
He
further said that there were two threats to the people's
sovereignty; one is terrorism and the other totalitarianism.
"Terrorism
can be faced while safeguarding democracy. If the government
safeguards democracy and people's sovereignty, people
in various tiers will support the government. But democracy
will be isolated if the government resort to totalitarianism.
We are now facing that situation," said, Ranil Wickramasinghe.
"Freedom
of expression is blocked and free media are under suppression,
People are being abducted and killed. Eleven of the killed
are journalists."
"People
have lost the right to organize and the people's representatives
are brutally massacred. Independent Commissions are not
implemented and the legislative board is not appointed.
Instead of free and fair elections, the support of the
armed groups is sought for elections. People are in fear
and terror is being spread."
The
executive powers have been taken over by a handful of
Ministers and the legislature is ignored. Sri Lanka is
named as one of the major human rights violators in this
context.?
"Prime
Minister D.S. Senanayaka's cabinet was the origin of five
future Premiers. Sri Lanka's first Governor and the Executive
President were Ministers in that cabinet. Then great people
ruled the country. But today the country is governed by
a stupid gang"
"We
have demolished the framework of political and spiritual
values. Universally accepted good governance norms are
dropped for the personal gains."
"We
have to wake up and unite as Sri Lankans now to find the
path ourselves. We must reject racism and religionist
ideas. We have to rise for our democratic rights. Good
governance should be re-established. Political and spiritual
qualities have to be identified and re-introduced."
The
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe said further, "Let
us ponder and question from our inside what we expect.
We need a rule that accounts to people and listen to them.
We need a rule that safeguards people's rights. We need
a clean rule free from terror and corruption that protects
people and develop the country."
Courtesy - LeN