Hambantota was an uncleared area : Fonseka

Fonseka says govt caught sharks, but wants it to go after whales now
May 10, 2015, 10:32 pm

By Chandrasiri Jasenthuliyana, Ambalangoda Corr

After another two months’ time, ten per cent of the office time of incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena would be over but people of the country had received only one per cent of the benefits promised to them under the good governance regime, 

Leader of the Democratic Party Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka said on Saturday.

Addressing a meeting of DP regional leaders at the Ambalangoda Town Hall auditorium Field Marshall Fonseka said that the government had come to power, promising action against fraudsters who had plundered the public institutions and embezzled people’s MONEY. The good governance administration had been able to cast a net to capture the sharks of corruption. "But, it is yet to throw a net to catch the whales of corruption. The government should start fighting corruption from the very top. Then only it can catch the whales of corruption."

Field Marshal Fonseka thanked his party men who had helped effect a regime change and to ensure the victory of Maithripala Sirisena at the January 08 presidential election. "This government is run by the President and Prime Minister that we appointed. We let them rule the country for 100 days without any criticism. The forthcoming general election will be a crucial and decisive one for our party men.

"We cannot forget the damage and destruction caused by the former regime. Hambantota was an uncleared area then. We planned eight rallies in that district during the last presidential election. But, the then ruler did not permit us to build a single stage there. But we did not cancel our plans to meet the people. We took mobile stages there and set them on the roof of vehicles and addressed the masses. We showed the people the plight we were in and called upon them to use their votes wisely. Even under suppression we polled more than 10,000 votes in Hambontota. Our party is only three years old, but people have welcomed us and our policies," the Field Marshal said.

He said when they joined the campaign to help the then Presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena they had 700,000 votes. They were certain that number now had increased up to more one million. "We hope to CONTEST all districts in the forthcoming general election and it is our target to get at least one member elected from our party to Parliament from each district.

Most probably we will be able to get two members elected from districts such as Colombo and Kalutara," he said.

"Mahinda Rajapaksa would still have been the President and Gotabhaya Defence Secretary they had acted according to the wishes of the public. They also fought with the wrong person.

When they incarcerated me, I had time. I used to run two kilometres a day. So, I was healthier and more vigorous when I came out of the prison. We are respecters of policies and we are not ready to betray our policies and go before the powers that be on bended knees. There were many OFFERS to me but I took none and kept my backbone straight. I will do the same in the future," the Field Marshal said.