Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has said that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP) will unite to build a democratic, people‑friendly country and government.
He made these remarks yesterday (20) in Colombo at the 84th birth anniversary commemoration of the late Minister Gamini Dissanayake.
Premadasa said that during an era when many opportunities were missed, and wrong decisions were taken, leaving 22 million people to suffer the consequences, it is necessary to strengthen a common people’s camp instead of leftist or rightist divisions.
He noted that the late Gamini Dissanayake envisioned a country with food security, land for the landless, and a strengthened people’s camp, and that the SJB and UNP will join hands to fulfil that vision.
The Opposition Leader further stated that society no longer accepts “coconut shell politics” or “dollar bundle politics,” nor is it prepared for unity in such alliances.
Victory, he said, must be won by the people through their trust, not sold for rupees and cents. The era of selling public trust is over. Instead, the country must move toward humane capitalism, social justice, unity, territorial integrity, safeguarding Buddhism, strengthening other religions and ethnicities, and building a nation of coexistence.
Premadasa described Gamini Dissanayake as the beginning of his political journey, noting that although many interpretations exist about his entry into politics, he joined after the death of Ranasinghe Premadasa, not through family politics. He said Gamini Dissanayake gave him his start in politics and social service, appointing him as Hambantota District Organizer.
Highlighting Dissanayake’s achievements, Premadasa said he was a true people’s leader who completed the Mahaweli project, scheduled for 30 years, within six years, and created the Swarnabhoomi land deeds program. He stressed that Dissanayake stood firmly with the democratic, people‑friendly camp.
Premadasa added that left and right ideologies have failed, as they were imported from abroad. What the country needs today, he said, is a democratic ideology that protects the people and works for the welfare of all.
He noted that the world now accepts democratic governance, rejecting leftist and rightist camps, and that leaders such as J.R. Jayewardene, Gamini Dissanayake, Lalith Athulathmudali, and Ranasinghe Premadasa followed democratic principles rather than ideological camps.
Premadasa further pointed out that initiatives such as Mahaweli, Mahapola, Gam Udawa, and Janasaviya were not right‑wing ideologies but democratic programs that strengthened the people.
Gamini Dissanayake, he said, rejected extreme capitalism, feudal capitalism, and extremist socialism, instead implementing democratic policies that fulfilled the aspirations of the people through projects like Mahaweli and Swarnabhoomi. (Newswire)