We also had the opportunity to kill people and save the government during the struggle - Namal

Addressing a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party promotion meeting held in the Attanagalla area, the party's National Organizer, Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa, stated that during the period of the 'Aragalaya' (struggle), there was an opportunity to protect the government by killing thousands using the army and police, but he did not do so. Mr. Rajapaksa mentioned that if he had acted in that manner, he too might not be alive today, and pointed out that if the government and its associated parties consider it cowardice to take a step back to save the youth of this country from a social catastrophe by standing with the people, then it is their mistake.

(Based on a report by Yohan Bhasura.)

The MP stated that the President and the government are trying to portray the unrest in prisons as the work of the opposition or Namal, and questioned whether the government perceives him as a powerful individual when they look at him. He also accused the government of taking steps to suppress opposition political forces, civil organizations, voluntary organizations, and the Maha Sangha (Buddhist clergy) in order to quell the public voice rising against the government. He further stated that the government is leading the country towards an autocratic rule by daily breaking the unlimited promises made to the people and by underestimating the mandate given by the people.

Pointing out that the people of this country are currently facing severe economic pressure, Namal Rajapaksa stated that the government is daily changing its tax policy, selecting individuals who are friendly to them, stand with them, and provide them with some advantage, and granting them unlimited tax concessions. However, the MP also accused the government of continuing its administration by imposing an unlimited tax burden on the ordinary people, working class, daily wage earners, and those working for a monthly salary in the country.

Although the President came to Parliament and declared that there were trillions of rupees in state accounts, he explained that the government's responsibility should be to create entrepreneurs and citizens who can earn millions, billions, or trillions, as well as to create a populace that can live happily by managing expenses commensurate with their income. The MP mentioned that although the government, having shirked that responsibility, boasted about having money in accounts, it was eventually admitted in parliamentary committees that a hacker had stolen those trillions of rupees and deposited them into incorrect accounts. He stated that the tax burden is being placed on the people to cover that loss, and that the public is being forced to compensate for the government's fraud, corruption, incompetence, and inefficiency through an ever-increasing tax burden.