Wolves in sheeps clothing, the UNPs silent destruction of the minorities

On Friday, Sri Lanka’s Presidential hopeful, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, launched his election manifesto, pledging much needed relief and hope to all citizens of the country.

While all sectors were touched on, including the areas which were much neglected by this government, one area which Mr Rajapaksa especially stressed on ensuring was national security and to uphold the rights of all minorities whether it be racial or religious minorities

Now we all know, that ever since this failing government was sworn to power in 2015, they launched a scathing false attack against the Rajapaksas saying they were to blame for inciting racism and causing violence against the minorities.

Infact, in my previous article, I have clearly outlined on who is to blame for the violent riots which broke out in Digana and Aluthgama and the Easter attacks which happened under this UNP government and that too just a few months before the elections.

By falsely preaching good governance, this government has to date, done nothing to help the minority communities or uphold their rights or prevent racist attacks from breaking out. Infact even though the UNP government based their election propoaganda back in 2015, pledging to launch a probe into the Aluthgama riots, no sooner were they in office that their pledges vanished in thin air and the probe which my father initiated was swept under the carpet. That itself proves as to who was responsible for instigating the riots.

On Friday, Mr Rajapaksa launched a very realistic election manifesto, which will be implemented to the end once he wins the Presidential elections next month. Infact every one is well aware, that Mr Rajapaksa is a man who implements all what he says and Sri Lanka’s success, before 2015, is partly due to the strong vision and work he did to uplift this island country.

Knowing how much the minorities in this country have suffered under the ‘watch’ of this government, Mr Rajapaksa has outlined many policies for the benefit of these innocent communities who very much belong to this country as all others.

After all, our Catholic community are yet coming to terms with the deadly Easter attacks, still searching for answers from this government as to why they did nothing to stop the blasts despite having prior information and the Muslim communities are also left feeling neglected as to why their communities were attacked thereafter and why this government did nothing to assure their safety.

In his election manifesto, Mr Rajapaksa stressed that the population living in this fertile motherland consisting of Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Catholics and Burgher were now living in despair and fear.  

They saw their country which was growing rapidly as Asia’s new miracle going towards a negative economy, as they feared terrorist attacks and bomb explosions, thinking that the fear-free environment they enjoyed since 2009, would disappear any moment. 

‘People are severely critical of the country being made a failed state by the incumbent government filled with corruption and characterized by inefficiency. We are at a critical juncture of ending this hopeless state of affairs and auspiciously laying the foundation to build a progressive and prosperous nation. Politicians, scholars and professionals have come together and worked out a programme of action consisting of 10 principles aimed at achieving a fourfold outcome: build up a country with a productive citizen, a happy family, a disciplined society and a prosperous nation,’ the manifesto read.

Mr. Rajapaksa further pledged to NOT permit any form of religious, racial or other extremism to take root in our land, thereby, ensuring that every citizen of whatever race or religious belief is able to live without any fear or suspicion and in harmony with each other.

In keeping with Mr Rajapaksa’s vision, his entire team pledge to back him to make this country a safe and a secure country for all citizens, especially for women and children, so that they could get about their life tasks without any fear and suspicion.

For the Rajapaksas and the SLPP, we see no diffrence in the Sinhalese, Tamils, Catholic and Muslims. If we can have all religions represented in our party, then why can we not treat all our citizens equal.

It is high time, that those who have been falsely misled by this failing government to believe that Mr Rajapaksa has worked only for the majority, accept the reality that it is the UNP who have harmed the minoroties the most.

The Easter Sunday attacks and the deadly attacks which erupted after, was just one of the examples of the dangerous agendas of this government in wiping out the minorities from this land.

It is time this truth is accepted. Vote wisely on Nov. 16 for the sake of your children and all future generations. Afterall, another 5 years under this government will further throw Sri Lanka into a bottomless pit through which our future will be very bleak.