Rajapaksas trying to build Presidential election campaign on 2009 war victory again Wednesday, 20 November 2013
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his group of advisors are now looking at building a campaign once again on the 2009 war victory for the Presidential election.
Given the mounting pressure from the international community of the Rajapaksa government to address human rights concerns and alleged war crimes committed during the final stages of the war and the threat of another resolution being adopted by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Sri Lanka at the Council sessions in March, the Rajapaksas are looking at using all this to win back the currently disgruntled masses in the country.
The government’s failure to address the issues faced by the people and the current economic crisis led to people becoming disillusioned with the Rajapaksa government.
The drop in the government’s popularity among the people and the opposition gathering momentum has resulted in the Rajapaksas deciding that a Presidential election should be called before the President completes his second term in office.
Presidential elections are likely to be held next year after the UNHRC sessions in Geneva in March.
It is learnt that the Rajapaksa advisors are currently formulating a media campaign to portray the President as a national hero who is being harassed by the international community for saving his country from terrorists without bowing down to imperialist elements.
“Whatever the outcome at the UNHRC session in March, it will be used by the Rajapaksas to address the extremist elements in the country to win votes by re-campaigning on the 2009 war victory,” a senior government minister said.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his group of advisors are now looking at building a campaign once again on the 2009 war victory for the Presidential election.“Whatever the outcome at the UNHRC session in March, it will be used by the Rajapaksas to address the extremist elements in the country to win votes by re-campaigning on the 2009 war victory,” a senior government minister said.
UNP Mayor Backs ‘Mihindu Senpura’ Housing Project For Evicted Slum Dwellers
November 20, 2013
Colombo Mayor and UNP Member A.J.M. Muzammil yesterday participated in the opening of the Mihindu Senpura housing scheme in Dematagoda, inaugurated to coincide with President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s 68th birthday celebrations.
The 500 unit housing scheme will house the residents of slums that were removed to make way for the ‘Mihidhu Senpura’ project.
Muzammil and Secretary to the Ministry of Defence,
President Rajapaksa said that his Government had not considered party affiliations in deciding the beneficiaries of the houses.
The housing units come with all basic facilities and are built in keeping with high quality standards. Each stage of the housing project was under the constant scrutiny ofSecretary to the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Ministry website said.
The Colombo Mayor is visible in the pictures with the President, the Defence Secretary and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and other Government figures.
When shanty dwellers were forcibly evicted from these areas in Colombo Mayor Muzammil failed to raise a voice against the move by the Secretary to the MOD run UDA. Having failed to stand up for the electorate that voted him into power the UNP mayor was now attempting to take credit for work completed by the regime, senior UNP sources said.
Party members quipped that it was ironic that while the entire opposition was against the construction of the President’s Cult of Personality, the UNP elected Mayor of Colombo was seen to be applauding the promotion of the Rajapaksa image all over the country.
