While claiming that it was not Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe who was threatned by the President after being elected to office, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday questioned about the safety of the general public when the President was threatening even an MP.

JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a news conference that the attempts made by the President and the Government to rule the country by intimidation and threats should be defeated.

“The President has a right to comment on the statement made by MP Rajapakshe regarding the Colombo Port City Economic Commission.he has various ways to respond to a statement made by an MP or a citizen. He could have responded to that statement at his Gama Samaga Pilisandara programme, through the Presidential Media Division or the Government Informations Department.the attempts made by the President and the Government to rule the country by intimidation and threats should be defeated.we are raising this issue concerning the country,” he said.

Mr. Dissanayake said the approval of the people should be sought when taking decisions concerning the country and added that the JVP sought the Supreme Court to rule out that the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill should be approved by a two/thirds majority in Parliament and at a referendum.

He said the government has deprived the people of their right to go to the Supreme Court against the said Bill by presenting it in parliament at a time when there was a long holiday ahead.

“Even the lawyers who left for their villages for the New Year had to return to Colombo to file cases.the first attempt of the government was to get the Bill approved without going through the Supreme Court.the second attempt is by intimidating and threatening,” he said.(AJITH SIRIWARDANA)