Protest by war veterans, a publicity stunt by opposition : Minister Sajith Premadasa

COLOMBO (News 1st) - A group of disabled soldiers who were protesting opposite the Fort Railway station for the past 20 days called off their fast today. UNP Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa met with the disabled soldiers who were protesting opposite the Fort Railway station this morning and discussed the issues faced by them. The Minister was told that a similar request regarding their demands was carried out before 2015 as well. U.D. Wasantha noted that a cabinet paper has been prepared, however, the Finance Minister has made drastic changes to it. Minister Sajith Premadasa noted that he built houses in Ippalogama for the soldiers and unlike the previous government he provides lands for soldiers for free. He added that those houses were built at an expense of Rs 1.2mn. He added that he holds veterans in high esteem, however, due to special election laws which are in effect before an election prohibits him from carrying out his housing program. Minister added, however, he is able to submit their proposal at the cabinet meeting tomorrow (October 01). He further added that he is prohibited from making any promises but he will return to them after the meeting. Minister Sajith Premadasa continued to assure that he has the utmost respect towards war veterans and he will tend to the matter. After the Minister Sajith Premadasa departure, MP Arundika Fernando arrived at the location and discussed the matter with the chairman of the National Movement to Protect the Rights of War Heroes, U.D. Wasantha. Following the discussion, the MP departed and returned with the opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa. Mahinda Rajapaksa noted that his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa had requested 2 days from the protestors to tend to the matter. The former president added that if he does not do this, his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa would definitely look into the matter. U.D. Wasantha, Chairman of the National Movement to Protect the Rights of War Heroes finally noted that they have decided to call off their protest as they were assured by two presidential candidates and added that they hope that they would not have to take the streets in the future. The presidential candidate of the UNP Sajith Premadasa expressed that the intelligent people in the country know what really went behind the 20-day protest by the war veterans at an event held in Colombo this evening. Minister added that the protest was not staged based on a justifiable cause. He noted that just as soon as he promised the veterans he would discuss their demands at the cabinet meeting tomorrow (October 01), the opposition rushed to the location and ordered them to call off the protest. Minister went on to note that this scenario itself reveals the perpetrators behind the protest- the opposition.