19th Congress of Communist Party of Sri Lanka begins

The 19th Congress of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka began on August 27th at Shalika Hall, Narahenpita. The congress will conclude on 29th August. 

Changes in the global context have influenced both political and economic situation in Sri Lanka. These positive changes have made opportunities for left parties and progressive people in Sri Lanka said Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL) General Secretary DEW Gunasekara addressing the opening ceremony of the 19th National Congress of CPS. 

Within last ten years there were four major changes in the global set up.Poverty is increasing, Neo liberalism is in danger,West front is in trouble and Asian Economy is booming.Left front and Socialist forces should be alert for above changes and should be united, he further said. 

Since 1943 CPSL all previous conferences have made positive influence to the political and economic development in the country. In this conference CPSL were able to discuss the constitutional changes and the electoral system. 

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena, Disaster Management Minister A H M Fowzie, Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera, Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana, Vasudeva Nanayakkara,W H Piyadasa,Raja Kollure,China Ambassador Yang Xiuping, Cuban Ambassador Nirsia Guevara and several foreign delegates were also present.
 
Recognising the need for a political settlement of the Tamil question in Sri Lanka, Communist Party of India (Marxist) Central Committee member T.K. Rangarajan, MP, on Friday said the immediate priority should be to address the concerns of relief, resettlement and rehabilitation of the Tamil civilian population. 

Addressing the 19th National Congress of the Sri Lankan Communist Party (SLCP) in Colombo, Mr. Rangarajan said the expeditious settlement of the Tamil question should involve the devolution of powers and autonomy for the Tamil-speaking areas within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. 

“We feel that such a political solution will strengthen the unity and integrity of Sri Lanka,” he said. With the end of the prolonged war, the rehabilitation of the displaced Tamils was a major concern as reports indicate that thousands of people were still living in relief camps.

Financial crisis

The ‘Great Recession' was a systemic crisis with its impact felt across the world. Contrary to the claims by many countries, the current crisis of international financial capital was far graver than any other crisis in the history of capitalism. The social impact too was being felt everywhere with rising discontent and increasing protests. 

In India, the impact was only to a limited extent because of the role played by the CPI(M) and other Left parties. Unfortunately, the Congress-led UPA government, buoyed by the fact that it no longer depended on the Left for its survival, was implementing the very same neo-liberal policies that in the first place, had led to this crisis, Mr. Rangarajan said. 

The ruling classes were trying their best to isolate the CPI(M) by attacking it from all directions. In West Bengal, one of the strongest bastions of the CPI(M) in the country, there was a broad ranging coalition forged by all political forces from the extreme right to the extreme left, including Maoists. More than 300 CPI(M) men have been killed by the Maoists in this province emboldened by this broad alliance. “Our party is thick in the fight not only resisting all these efforts intended to isolate the party but also in defence of the rights of the toiling people,” he said.