JVP sets demands to support Budget

Tough choices: JVP Chief Somawansa Amarasinghe and Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa in a pensive mood at the annual November Heroes day held in Colombo yesterday. The party laid out their demands to the government, if they are to support Monday’s Budget vote. Pic by Ishara S. Kodikara

By Jayashika Padmasiri
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday put forward four demands for the party to reconsider its decision to support the government at the voting of the second reading of the budget on the 19th of this month.

Setting a deadline to meet these demands JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe said that they would give six days for the government to respond to the party’s demands.

The demands forwarded by the JVP are the withdrawal of the cease fire agreement (CFA), to dissolve the All Party Representatives Committee (APRC), safeguard the territorial integrity in the country without restricting them to words and to stop the United Nations (UN) from interfering into the human rights violations issues existing in the country.
“The government has been idling for two years now, without doing anything. Enough of their talk, we will give them six days to act now.

Every one wants to know what the JVP stance may be on the budget. Some accuse the JVP to be without a backbone and to be on the fence. Well, our party does not need to be on the fence, it has never been so.

We have already made a decision,” Amarasinghe said while addressing the November Heroes day held at the Maharagama Youth Centre.

Further speaking Amarasinghe criticized the budget saying it is against public welfare. “Some people call this to be a people minded budget, I don’t know what is wrong with them. It is true that there is a conspiracy existing to topple the president and the government and this is a crucial time. However, the JVP has got the steering wheel today and we will take it to the right direction. ”

JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva addressing the ilmahawiruwa criticized the UNP saying that they are foolish to call for an agreement which will cease hostilities between the government and the LTTE.

“Do they believe that the government can come to an agreement to cease hostilities with the LTTE and terrorists? Does a person or a party who cares for the country and its people say something like that?, ” Silva asked.