Strongest section of UNP has joined Govt. - Malwatte Prelate
Asela Kuruluwansa, Sarath Samaranayake and Indika
Polkotuwa.
KANDY: It is the strongest section of the UNP which has joined the
government with the objective of providing solutions to the country's
burning problems including the North East problem said the Most Ven.
Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake thera of the Malwatte
Chapter.
The Mahanayake thera made this observation when eleven members of the
UNP reformist group led by Public Administration and Home Affairs
Minister Karu Jayasuriya called on him at the Malwatte Maha Viharaya in
Kandy yesterday to receive his blessings after they were sworn in as
Ministers and Deputy Ministers the previous day.
Among others who called on him were Plan Implementation Minister P.
Dayaratne, Supplementary Crops Development Minister R.M. Dharmadasa
Banda, Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G.L.
Peiris, Sports and Public Recreation Minister Gamini Lokuge, Trade
Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Affairs Minister
Bandula Gunawardena, Construction and Engineering Services Minister Dr.
Rajitha Seneratne, Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda, Media Minister
Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene, Investment Promotion Minister Naveen
Dissanayake, Enterprise Development Minister Mano Wijeyaratne and Land
and Land Development Deputy Minister Chandrasiri Suriyarachchi.
The Malwatte Prelate said he was extremely pleased to see such a
group who had held responsible portfolios and rendered vital service to
the country earlier joining hands with the government. The additions of
such a group of capable people would strengthen governments' hands and
enable it to carry forward its work more vigorously.
The Malwatte Prelate said the Maha Sangha had always maintained the
position that a consensus between the two main political parties would
ensure quick solutions to the country's problems.
He said a vital responsibility had been cast on the shoulders of the
newly appointed Ministers and added that they should dedicate themselves
towards solving country's burning problems in accordance with the
Mahinda Chinthanaya.
Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Karu Jayasuriya said
the Maha Sangha had always emphasised the need for a consensus between
the two main parties for resolving country's burning problems. Although
a MoU was signed between the SLFP and the UNP last October for finding
solutions to burning problem it failed due to the absence of a mechanism
to ensure its implementation.
He said the strongest section of the UNP and a grouping of small
parties were today co-operating with the government and the government
almost looked like a national government though not in the true sense of
this word.
Jayasuriya said they would extend their fullest assistance and
co-operation to the government until the next general elections.
Earlier Jayasuriya and group of Ministers visited the Sri Dalada
Maligawa and paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic. After receiving
blessings from Ven. Hunupolagama Vajira Sri thera they met Diyawadana
Nilame Nilanga Dela Bandara for a brief exchange of views.
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