Manusha Nanayakkara said that people have been brought to Galle for door-to-door canvassing, claiming that it is for a JVP meeting. Speaking to the media this morning, he stated that the media should investigate this further.
He said that the JVP is trying to recreate the situation of 1988-1989 by threatening musical groups and journalists.
Commenting further, he said:
“We did canvassing in Galle yesterday. Canvassing was done for the President in fourteen thousand polling stations. I received some news this morning. Find out from the media whether it is true or not. Twenty-five buses have been booked from the Kasbewa depot to Galle. These buses have been reserved for a meeting of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. However, there is no JVP meeting in Galle.
One bus has been reserved for sixty thousand rupees. Another twenty thousand rupees has been allocated to the organizer. There is no meeting in Galle. But when I traveled from Kahaduwa area, I saw some people canvasing both sides of the road. There was not a single familiar face. There was only one or two person who known to me. They are trying to bring people from all over the country to Galle for their canvassing.
I dont think that no one in Galle is foolish enough to canvass for the JVP. Therefore, bringing twenty-five buses to canvas is a fake show being created in the country. The media is requested to investigate whether twenty-five buses have indeed been dispatched from the Kasbewa depot and where those buses went.
Sagarika Gomes was killed for Prasanting news. Premakirthi de Alwis also killed. Richard de Soyza was killed. Marians, a popular music group, changed a song and sang it. The song was performed mockingly, and threats were made to the band. The band had to apologize, saying that they made a mistake and did not mean it.
In the near future, Eric Gamini of the Island newspaper wrote a book about the JVP. Today, Island newspapers have worked to drive him away. I saw on social media that arrangements have been made to disconnect telephone lines. Journalists are not given the opportunity to tell the truth.
Go to the north and threaten the other side. The people of the south have formed such a consensus, and if the north does not comply, they threaten that they do not know what decisions the people of the south will make.
We have seen videos threatening an army officer who went to a Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna rally. By making these threats, they are trying to recreate the situation of 1988-1989. Ramat is trying to create a disaster once again. The people of the country should think about this. The Election Commission should pay attention.”