No mandate to continue Rajapakse policy – Academics and Citizens’ Organization
Jan 16, 2017
Academics and Leaders of Citizens; Organizations jointly called for a press conference and expressed their opposed against government’s policy on Hambantota land deal with China.
“Before the government made a policy they should make a dialogue with people,” said Dr. Nirmal Ranjith , Senior Lecturer at University of Colombo at the press conference held at CSR in Colombo on Jan. 13, 2017.
“People have been given the power to government for five years and urged them to govern the country according to good governance policies. Who gave the power to the government to give 15,000 acres of lands in Hambantota to China for 99 years on lease?”
He added, “People have a right to know about the land deal with China. Government should respect to the peoples’ opinion,”
“Prime Minister told that they will inform to the people after they taken a decision. Before they make a decision government should aware the people and discuss with them. Do they ready to change their decisions if the people say that they are not agreeing with land deal?” Ranjith said at the event.
Addressing the media Keerthi Tennakoone, executive director of CaFFE said that government did not call for the tender and it is a violation of good governance policies.
“The government maintains an office called Southern Development Agency for develop south in Sri Lanka and it is not a registered institute.”
Chameera Perera, Co-convener of Left Centre, Dr. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan, Lecturer at University of Colombo and Akalanka Hettiarachchi, convener of Aluth Parapura also spoke out at the event.
Talking to Lanka News Web Chameera Perera, Co-convener of Left Centre said that prior to go for agreement with China or any other country government has to expose the agreement and discuss with the people.
He added, “That is the mandate. The mandate is not to continue their own agenda with their military or political powers. So, it is kind of a consultation democracy means that government has to discuss with the people.
- Lawrence Ferdinando - Colombo.
