Arundika Becomes Independent, Urges Ranil-Sajith Unity to Prevent JVP from Taking Over the Country

State Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Arundika Fernando, announced that he would act independently in Parliament. Making a special statement in Parliament today (04), State Minister Arundika Fernando urged Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and President Ranil Wickremesinghe to work together. Elaborating further, State Minister Arundika Fernando said:

"Today, state officials are going for postal voting. There are 1.4 million state officials. The minds of state officials have been completely washed. Lies have been planted among public servants. This country has seen two rebellions in 1971 and 1989. Especially in '89, 60,000 youth were destroyed. It's the same in the North. When a group of beloved Northern youth were about to take the country to a destructive place with the LTTE, there was a massive youth massacre. Now the target is the youth. Through social media networks, they are taking this to a place where the minds of youth are being destroyed. From today, we will see if we can't win this, Mr. Speaker, whether we win or lose - that's democracy.

However, if they say they will bring it to a destructive place again after losing, if they talk about starting struggles and burning down the Parliament, I declare from today that as an independent MP, I am willing to discuss with anyone who can join to defeat this. I plead with folded hands, if possible, for the Opposition Leader and the President to unite. If possible, bring these two groups together."