PA sees 'capitalist conspiracy' in no-faith motion

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 July 2001, 11:36 GMT]
Hundreds of workers of pro-government trade unions demonstrated at the Lipton's circus roundabout near downtown Colombo Wednesday. "The working classes have confidence in the PA government. Businessmen and millionaires cannot be allowed to overthrow the present government which came to power with the support of working community", demonstrators told state media units covering the protest.

Media and Information Minister Mr. Anura Priyadarashana Yapa addressing the gathering said, "The turnout today shows that the people are with the government. The government cannot be overthrown by the UNP's no-confidence motion".

Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister of Fisheries also spoke at the pro-government demonstration Wednesday. "The power of the working people is with the PA government", the minister declared.

"Demonstrations and such shows of its purported strength among the working classes by the government is aimed at building pressure on the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) to impel that party into opposing the UNPís no confidence motion. This is why the PA is keenly promoting the impression that the UNPís no confidence motion is a capitalist conspiracy", the political columnist of a Sinhala weekly told Tamilnet.

The JVP, the radical Marxist party which commands ten votes in the Parliament, has emerged as the key player in the moves to unseat the PA regime. Analysts say that the partyís ten votes would decide the outcome of the no confidence motion against the government. The JVP now controls the largest network of trade unions in urban Sinhala areas and Colombo.