By Saman Indrajith
The SLFP led PA next week will launch an agitation campaign called "Virodhaya" to pressurise the government to control the soaring cost of living; to stop political revenge and to bring peace without dividing the country.

"We witnessed during the last couple of months that people have been facing lot of hardships owing to price hikes of essential items. And, our supporters are suppressed. We decided to break the ice with an islandwide agitation campaign to urge the government either to bring down the prices of essential commodities or to increase the salaries enabling people to cope with the soaring cost of living," said Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapakse Thursday

He said that the present government came to power after harping very much of hardships caused by the former government and on the promise to the voters that life would be easier under the UNF’s economic policies but after its hundred days revolution, people are starving. "They promised to remove taxes to reduce the prices for the common man. Yes, they removed the GST and introduced VAT which will come into effect from July 1, whereafter public will face untold hardships as prices of essential items and medicine would be increased three fold," he told a press conference held at the Sravasti on Thursday;

"Suppression under UNP administration is not something new to us. We faced it during the 1977-94 period. I faced 14 cases against me; civic rights of our leader was deprived. Similarly, non-UNPers are thrown out of their jobs in many places like petroleum, SLTB, CWE and other government institutions," he lamented.

"More than 2500 supporters are arrested on false accusations. We have complained against these suppressions to the International Parliamentary Union and have informed international community.

Opposition Leader said that they intend to pressurise the government to achieve a dignified peace without dividing the country.

The SLFP led PA will line up with those suppressed by the government, and will become their voice, he said.

The first of ‘Virodhaya’ agitation campaign will be held at 4 p.m. on May 16 at Nugegoda and then the SLFP will take this campaign around the country, he added.

Leader of the Sri Lanka Communist Party, Raja Kollure, PA MPs Susil Premajayanth, Dilan Perera, Arjuna Ranatunga, Reginald Cooray also addressed the press conference.