• “How can this appointment be different from forming a conspiracy government in 2018?”
• Decision to appoint Ranil Wickremesinghe was a total  negligence of the people’s struggle and the proposals put forward by the  Mahanayake Theras, Bar Association

By Ajith Siriwardana  

Appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is similar to the political conspiracy hatched by former President Maithripala Sirisena, who appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister through the backdoor in 2018, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.  

He told a news conference that it was against the mandate of this government to appoint Mr. Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister, as President Rajapaksa came to power by promising to punish the latter over the failure to prevent Easter Sunday attacks and over the Central Bank Bond scam.  

“How can this appointment be different from forming a conspiracy government in 2018? Maithripala appointed his rival Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister going against the mandate. Gotabaya has also done the same thing today. They are playing with people’s lives and aspirations,” he said.  
He said the decision taken to appoint Ranil Wickremesinghe was a total negligence of the people’s struggle and the proposals put forward by the Mahanayake Theras, Bar Association on the need to form an interim government for a short period of time to resolve the present crisis situation.  

“Even in a democratic aspect, this appointment is not valid. Wickremesinghe was rejected by the people at the last election. Gotabaya Rajapaksa also has lost his mandate within two and half years. Both of them have been rejected by the people now. Only Ranil and Gotabaya believe each other. People do not believe any of these two,” he said.  

It was Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was delaying the proposal to go for an election to form a new government. “He never mentioned an interim government. He is trying to protect his position received with the blessing of the Rajapaksas,” he said.