"War is over, Govt. must think of the people"

(June 09, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Now that the war is over , it is time the Ministers and the Govt. get down to brass-tacks and think of the people , said UNP M.P. Johnston Fernando speaking to the media today ( 9 Jun) at the UNP media unit. For three years the Ministers covered up all their neglect of duty and misdeeds by talking incessantly of the on going war .

The Govt. too resorted to burdening the people with the worst of hardships and committing acts of erosion of media freedom and Democracy blaming on the war. The Govt. need not be reminded that it is the people who made the most sacrifices enduring all the ruthless taxations, price hikes and burdens while the Ministers were merely talking about a war round the clock and not working . Hence, it is the bounden duty of the Govt. to turn its attention to relieving the masses of the untold sufferings and hardships they are now experiencing.

The Govt. has now secured an opportunity to mend all its weaknesses and wrongs committed in the past by settling down to rectifying them . This is the only way it can show its true concern for the people . It must make a genuine attempt to restore Democracy , media rights and freedom ,and provide relief to the people who are right now in the worst unprecedented predicament . Otherwise , it will be like winning a war and losing all to the detriment of the country and its people.

It is an incontrovertible fact that , since the advent of this Govt., crimes , media attacks and murders have risen on a mercurial scale ,while apprehension of the culprits and criminals have been miserably poor with the law enforcing mechanisms almost at zero efficiency . Consequently , the crime wave has hit a record high because of the apparent impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators with the Govt. itself accused of alleged collusion , he regretted.

If quick remedial actions are not taken and justice is not meted out , the Govt. will have to blame itself if there is another uprising , he warned .

-Sri Lanka Guardian