President promises smaller Cabinet

Rasika Somaratne in Bandarawela

*Major role for young politicians

*No place for mud slinging campaigns

The future Government has no intention of having a large Cabinet of Ministers, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Addressing the Badulla SLFP district organisers’ meeting at Bandarawela Town Hall on Saturday, President Rajapaksa said young politicians with commitment and a correct attitude would be given a major role to play in the Nation’s future development.

The UPFA has made arrangements to get the participation of young people at the forthcoming Parliamentary elections, he added.

The meeting also saw the formal introduction of former Speaker W.J.M.Lokubandara’s son, Udith Lokubandara as a UPFA candidate from Badulla at the upcoming polls.

Adding that the two thirds majority in Parliament was within UPFA’s reach this time, the President added that such a happening could propagate speedy development and ensure necessary constitutional changes.

President Rajapaksa pointed out to the gathering that the Government was able to undertake mega development projects such as the building of harbours, airports, electricity supply and construction of roads etc. despite having to face a conflict and other barriers.

Sans most these barriers, the future Government was now in a position to embark on a major development thrust in line with the people’s expectations, he added.

The President also advised party activists to engage in virtuous and honourable politics.

He said hate politics and mud slinging campaigns did not have a place in contemporary society.

He pointed to the victory handed over to the Government by the people without taking rumours and mud slinging into consideration.

Former Speaker Lokubandara and his wife were on stage to see the induction of their son to national politics.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva addressing the gathering hinted that the former Speaker’s next entry into Parliament could be through the UPFA national list.

The former Speaker said he had always been impressed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s political philosophy.

He reminded the gathering that the President at the outset had been handed over a Parliament in which he could not appoint even his own Speaker.

However, the President did not resort to malign the constitution or other cover-ups but put his head down and got to the task at hand which ultimately helped to bolster his numbers from within the same Parliament, Lokubandara added.

Referring to his politics with the UNP for 33 years representing the Badulla district, Lokubandara said during this period, he had never engaged in confrontational politics and as a result had won the hearts and minds of all without any political affiliations.

Bandarawela SLFP Organizer Dr. Rohana Pushpakumara and Udith Lokubandara also addressed the gathering.

Minister Dilan Perera and several other politicians were present.