JVP-led NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said the era when politicians bought votes to win elections is over.
Addressing the NPP Women Convention at Hambantota, Dissanayake said that people had now realised the public was no longer swayed by election bribes. “The people have learnt that handouts they receive are not free and they will have to pay for them after the elections,” Dissanayake said.
“We are going to put an end to this culture at the coming election. These politicians distribute various things to get the votes of people by attracting them to their rallies. Some distributed sarees, sil redi, bottles of liquor, pass books, sewing machines, Pirith books etc. We had a politician in this Hambantota district who gave boxes of matches with his number and symbol printed on them. There was another who used to send a bag of rice to every funeral.
“People have learnt that these handouts are not actually free. In return, the crafty politicians get their votes and became billionaires. That is why the people hoot at these politicians whenever they come to villages to distribute something. We have witnessed many such incidents from all over the country. People booed at politicians who tried to distribute coconut saplings, water filters, books and stationery to children. This is a positive sign,” Dissanayake said. (SI)