JVP responds to Gotabhaya’s statement

The JVP states that the comments made by Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who is a public official, about political parties and their activities is an overstepping of his duties as a Ministry Secretary.

The JVP issued a statement on the matter in response to comments made by the Defence Secretary to The Island and Divaina newspapers about the recent visit to the North undertaken by a group of JVP leaders.

The English translation of the statement issued by the JVP is as follows:

  “Gotabhaya Rajapakse is a government official but recently has made comments regarding political parties and their activities. It is not the duty of a government official and he is overstepping his limits. 

“The essence of the comments made by the Defense Secretary is that the aim of the JVP was to sabotage the programmes carried out by the government in the North. However, there is no programme launched by the government that raises the standard of living of the people in these areas. Therefore, how could the JVP sabotage such programmes?

“Despite the lapse of 13 months since the end of the war, the government has not managed to provide the displaced people even with the basic facilities. 

“The JVP is a people’s party. Hence, it is the responsibility of the JVP to represent their issues. The comments made by Gotabhaya Rajapaksa cannot prevent the JVP from mediating in issues of the people. Nor can he bring discredit to the JVP by making comments overstepping his position as a government official. We would continue to represent issues of the masses in the North.”