Housing and Construction Minister Sajith Premadasa said that President Maithripala Sirisena is facing the same vilifications that his father Ranasinghe Premadasa had to endure during his tenure as the President.
“Those who are jealous about the achievements of President Sirisena are plotting his downfall. They attack him mercilessly, fuelled by rage, jealousy, envy and grudges. These were the type of attacks my father too faced,” he said, addressing a Village Reawakening (Gam Udawa) function.
Minister Premadasa noted that President Maithripala Sirisena was not a person born with a silver spoon. “He hails from a farmer’s family. I am often reminded of my father’s roots when I see him as he is also someone who comes from a middle class family. They both broke the stereotype notions in politics,” he added.
He said that United National Party supporters and many others brought him to the position where he is today. When he first became President, the opposition called him “Aiyo Sirisena“ who “betrayed the leader after eating hoppers together”.
But today all conspirators were showing an interest in working with President Sirisena, not because of the love and concern they have for the people and the country, but because their only motive is to bring him down.
“Their eyes are on positions and power but we will continue to go ahead with the Yahapalanaya Government established by the President and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe,” he said.
He said that the formation and removal of a Government can only be done through the ballot and not through petty political agendas. The ones who are plotting to fill their pockets with dollars have no aspirations for the betterment of the public.
“We should all together defeat the conspiracy against President Sirisena,” he said. Minister Premadasa said that President and the Prime Minister have given him their blessings and strength to establish more housing projects. More than 20,000 houses will be built for the people under the Village Reawakening Movement by 2020.
He noted that the ones who are plotting against the Government do not have any aspirations to build houses for the people and strengthen their standard of living.
“Their plan is strengthen their own family and generation, they are not bothered about the public or the future generations of our country,” he said.
Minister Premadasa emphasized that conspiracies will only serve to strengthen the Government and enhance its commitment to serve the people.