Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Politburo member Kumar Gunaratnam states that the policy statements put forth by UPFA candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa and NDF candidate Maithripala Sirisena, have once again proven FSP’s stance to be correct.

He made these comments at a press conference held yesterday at Rajagiriya.

He further expressed these views:

“In 1994 no one told us to begin democratic politics. We forced our way into it. By then, the Soviet camp had fallen and comrade Rohana Wijeweera had been killed. Back then we talked about a ‘Left’. But now twenty years later, we have had to start talking about a new ‘Left’. Our effort can be described as a continuation of that project in 1994.

“Faith in socialism and the Left has deteriorated more than ever in Lanka. Therefore it is the responsibility of the Left to put forth a more accurate understanding regarding socialism. Socialism is not only about having a house or having a job. Socialism is a society that embodies respect, contentment and love. Both the two main camps have the same policy regarding education, health, agriculture, national question. That is why we are putting forth a leftist alternative. Democracy has become limited to abolishing the executive presidency. Do students, youths, workers have democracy? Look at the lives of the greater majority of workers. You can understand what we are saying by looking at the balance sheet of the past sixty six years.”We are being told to choose one instead of the other. We did the same thing in 1994 to end the 17 year curse of the UNP. Now after 20 years, we are being told to do the exact same thing once again. Back then we said that this open economy cannot be given a humane face, and that this system cannot solve the problem of democracy and the national question. Dictators do not manifest according to their own will. At one time, Rajapaksa was talking about human rights. What is his situation now? Both the main candidates have left out the national question. Not only them, but also the TNA have betrayed the national question. For them, democracy and the national question are two separate things. But for us it is one and the same. There is an oppression against the minority Tamil and Muslim masses. That is the national question. And it is also a question of democracy. We say with responsibility that the situation will not get better no matter who come to power. These rulers are concerned about their power and not about the problems of the greater majority.

"Some civil activists honestly believe in democracy. They ask us to join this Ranil-Chandrika-Champika-TNA-Rauf Hakeem coalition. This is like a tornado. Anything can be pinned on to this. It will even accept leftist slogans. But none of them will bear fruit. It is evident from both their policy statements.”

Front Line Socialist Party politburo members, Senadheera Gunathilake, Chameera Koswatta, Pubudu Jayagoda and Ravindra Mudalige also participated at the press conference.

Lanka Views and Kumar Gunaratnam