President tells partners of Alliance Government :

Work with collective responsibility

From Ranil Wijayapala in Kahatagasdigiliya

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga yesterday stressed the need for partners of the Alliance Government to work with collective responsibility for the benefit of the country without attempting to increase individual party stakes within the Government.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the second phase of the Dahasak Vew renovation program of the UPFA Government, from the Loolnewa tank in Kahatagasdigiliya, Anuradhapura, President Kumaratunga said no one should obstruct the Government's path, if the Government is to be protected.

"We all say that we should not allow this Government to fall. So no one should put obstacles in its way," the President said. President Kumaratunga inaugurated the second phase of the renovation of 10,000 tanks project of the UPFA Government by initiating the renovation of Loolnewa tank amidst chanting of Seth Pirith by the Maha Sangha, along with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, Agriculture, and Lands Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake and other Ministers.

Thousands of villagers participated at the ceremony to contribute their labour voluntarily to renovate the tank with the hope it will help cultivate their paddy lands.

Under the second stage of the project, 1,500 abandoned tanks and irrigation systems are planned to be renovated. President Kumaratunga said eight parties within the Freedom Alliance Government were working with consensus.

"The SLFP and the JVP signed the agreement after sorting out our differences. So we should work for the benefit of the country and its people without trying to make one party's share a big one," the President said.

She said the only way of solving the North and East problems was to have a negotiated settlement.

"When we are trying to find a negotiated settlement, we cannot play words and oppose them saying that we were not informed of it," she added.

"We should take decisions considering both our policies and also about the practical side of it," she said.

Referring to the issue regarding the Ceylon Electricity Board, President Kumaratunga said corrupt administration has resulted in a Rs. 90 billion loss in the CEB.

"The only option the UNP had for this was to privatise it after fragmenting it into several sections. We have prepared plans for this after having lengthy discussions with experts," The president added.

"We cannot do things hundred per cent perfect. We have to decide on these plans based on our policies and considering the practical side of it," the President added. She pointed out that the loss at the CEB increased from Rs. 60 billion to Rs. 90 billion through dragging on this problem for six months without any decision.

President Kumaratunga said the Government should prepare programs to create a proper market for products of small scale farmers amounting to 80 per cent of the faring community.

President Kumaratunga said the UPFA Government unlike the UNP took steps to look into the welfare of the people, by providing 40,000 jobs for graduates, renovating tanks and other variours programs.

"We were not in a position to control the prices of goods as world oil prices shot up in the world market from US$ 25 to 55 after the UPFA came in to power", she added. The President said for the first time the per capita income of the country has exceeded US$ 1000.

She said the Government has the task of renovating 1500 tanks within this year and added that it would be better if Provincial Councils too repaired tanks under their purview parallel to this program.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse addressing the gathering said as a pro-people Government, it had focused on promoting the farmer community after it came to power, through the 1000 tank renovation projects.

He said the Government this year allocated the largest quantum of funds ever to purchase the paddy harvest of farmers.

"We are not ready to break pledges given to our people," the Prime Minister added. Agriculture, Lands and Irrigation Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said people can now see the good results of programs launched by the Government. He said the country has recorded the highest paddy harvest this year.

"The Government under the President's instructions has taken steps to issue 100,000 blocks of lands for the landless people", he said.

The Minister said under the first phase of the program, 962 tanks were renovated out of 1014 tanks undertaken.

He said the Government has taken steps to initiate major irrigation projects like the Deduru Oya, Kehirivabada and Sengalaya projects, in addition to the renovation of 1,500 tanks of the second phase.

Small and Rural Industries Minister K. D. Lal Kantha said the UPFA Government could not be toppled though some expected the Government would be toppled over the differences within it.

"As a Government consisting of several political parties with different opinions, we have arguments and counter arguments within the Government. They are for the long existence of the Government but not for its fall", the Minister added.

He said it would be similar to the UNP Government if there are no arguments within the Government.

"We will not take any step that will allow the UNP to form a Government again", the Minister said.

He said certain media were trying to create opinion in society that the present differences within the Government would lead to its fall.

"Through this, they are trying to create an uncertain situation in the country", he added.

North Central Province Governor Jagath Balasuriya, Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake and Environmental and Natural Resources Minister A. H. M. Fowzie also participated.