We must overcome development challenges - PM

Mohammed Naalir

COLOMBO:Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake yesterday said when he was elected to Parliament from the Horana polling division for the first time,he gave oaths not as a Sri Lankan Parliamentarian but swore allegiance to the British Queen who was 7000 to 8000 miles away and to the colonial Government. Prime Minister Wickramanayake addressing the Janaraja Sakmana foot path opening ceremony at the Independence Square said the Parliamentarians were compelled to be loyal to British Queen and the Colonial administration during those days.

The Janaraja Sakmana foot path was erected by the Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Ministry to mark the 35th Republic Day and as a part of the Independence Square Development Project.

The Prime Minister said in 1972 in such a day during Former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s Government we submitted a Bill to the Parliament unanimously and put an end to the interference of British Queen and the Colonial Government. “Now we give oath to Sri Lankan people and Sri Lanka Government that we would serve only for Sri Lankan nation”.

Our being a sovereign republic is insufficient unless we overcome the development challenges, he said.