Ministers who erred given a chance by President - Health Minister

'Dedication led to President's victory' :

DIYATALAWA: President Mahinda Rajapaksa acting as a true democrat has given a chance for Ministers who have erred to reform themselves and come back to the fold, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

The Minister was addressing a public meeting after opening the new public bus stand at Diyatalawa on Monday.

De Silva said Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who was day dreaming and spreading falsehoods about the Government which was making a genuine effort to solve the burning national problem, had now seen a gold mine in the sacking of three Government ministers.

"Although the Opposition Leader had made use of this small incident to ridicule the Government, his position as Opposition Leader may also be in danger before long," the Minister said.

De Silva who charged that the Wickremesinghe Government did not render an iota of service towards the country's development, added that the people of this country vented their anger on it by chasing it out in two years.

The people even went further and shattered his dream of becoming President by defeating him at the last Presidential election.

De Silva said President Rajapaksa won the Presidential election through his own dedicated efforts.

"No other individual was personally responsible for his victory," the Minister said. Today the Government is quite stable and strong with 121 members supporting it in Parliament.

There was no crisis within Government ranks as some people tried to portray, he said. Wickremesinghe who was lazy and indolent during the last Presidential election was only left with the Opposition leadership post, the minister said.

"He may lose that too if another four UNP Parliamentarians crossed over to the Government."