President entirely to blame for hedging - Sirithunga Jayasuriya
Wednesday, 03 December 2008 13:13
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is entirely to blame for the hedging deal, despite attempts by the government to defend itself and the President by trying to pass on the blame to Minister A.H.M. Fowzie and former chairman of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Asantha de Mel, said leader of United Socialist Party Sirithunga Jayasuriya.
Mr. Jayasuriya was speaking at a seminar titled "Socio-Political Reality of Hedging" organized by 'Corruption Watch' in Colombo yesterday (Dec. 03rd).
He said, "Corruption and malpractices are a cancer that had infested the Rajapaksa regime since its inception. People first got to know about it with the Helping Hambantota incident. Since Helping Hambantota, all this long what Rajapaksas had been doing was hedging."
"This is not a blunder. Mr. Rajapaksa became president through Mahinda Chinthana. Wimal, Champika and Nivard wrote it. Mahinda Chinthana does not say anywhere that bribery and corruption will be opposed. Except that, everything it there. But, not a word about bribery and corruption. That is why Champika and Wimal who promote the war, keep silence over bribery and corruption of the government."
Mr. Jayasuriya was also critical of the petitioners who challenged the hedging deal in court for failing to name the finance minister and Central Bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal as respondents.
Also speaking here, legal coordinator of 'Corruption Watch' attorney Ravi Jayawardena said the silence of so-called patriots in the face of swindling of public property and wealth was a matter of grave concern.
"People who oppose those who are trying to grab land of the country should understand that fighting against the robbery of the public property and people's wealth and protect the country's people and their values are the true nationalism."
He also said, "We are exposing bribery and corruption not to replace 'blue ties with green ties in the seat of government.' We are moving to expose to the people anyone who swindles the country's assets and people's wealth."
Ven. Theeniyawala Palitha Thera chaired the seminar, where MPs Ravi Karunanayake, Dayasiri Jayasekara as well as 'Corruption Watch' spokesman attorney Shiral Lakthilake and national organizer Rohana Gamage also delivered lectures.
courtesy:lankadissent.com
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