Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) activist Wasantha Mudalige on Saturday (18) lambasted the National People’s Power (NPP) government for having allowed India to expand investments in the strategic Trincomalee District, at the expense of people.
Addressing a gathering in Trincomalee, Mudalige explained how the NPP government had brazenly facilitated high-profile Indian projects, such as the Trincomalee oil tank farm project, launched decades ago, and recent ones.
The FSP protest was timed for President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to the SLAF Academy, China Bay, Trincomalee, for the 14th President’s Colour Awarding and Commissioning and Flying Brevets Awarding Parade.
Mudalige alleged that the police had thwarted an attempt by those affected by Indian projects to hand over a letter expressing their concerns to President Dissanayake. The FSP activist pointed out how the NPP was pursuing an agenda inimical to Sri Lanka, contrary to what the JVP/NPP had been saying over the years.
FSP spokesman Pubudu Jayagoda told The Island yesterday (19) that the government seemed to have adopted a very similar strategy in the Mannar District, where the people have launched protests against controversial wind power projects.
Responding to queries, Jayagoda pointed out that none of those NPP lawmakers, from the Northern and Eastern Provinces, spoke on behalf of the people, for obvious reasons. Jayagoda alleged that the government was bent on appeasing India, regardless of consequences.
Mudalige told the Trincomalee gathering that the NPP government had allowed India to consolidate its position in Trincomalee by taking over land, and, at that rate, nothing would be left for the people.
The FSP also called a press conference in Colombo where Duminda Nagamuwa questioned India’s motive in implementing housing projects in many parts of the country. Nagamuwa pointed out that there were so many people without proper housing in India, while New Delhi was engaged in mega housing projects here.
The Indian High Commission in Colombo recently declared that Sri Lanka housing projects were worth approximately Rs 64 bn. (SF)
