Government will take up vestiges of separatism

Chaminda PERERA

The forthcoming Government will take up the challenge of facing the vestiges of separatist elements who are trying to raise their ugly heads in the international platform, said Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka Thursday.

The Minister said these elements are trying to establish a transitional Government with the support of some Western countries. He added that the Government's next mission will meet this challenge at diplomatic level.

The Minister was speaking at an intellectual forum organized by the AIM 2020 team to discuss the election manifesto of the UPFA and the UNP at the Mahaweli Centre. AIM 2020 is a professional body which promotes the idea of establishing a parliament consisting of professionals and intellectuals.

Professionals representing various fields participated in this discussion. Former parliamentarian Wijedasa Rajapaksa PC represented the United National Party at this forum. Professor Sudantha Liyanage conducted the discussion. Minister Ranawaka said the UNP has become a minority party in the political arena of the country. The UNP said that Sri Lanka will be sidelined by the international community if Sri Lanka proposes China, India, Pakistan and Russia to replace the Co-chair for peace process, he said.

The Minister said that Government under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa proposed to replace countries which were acting as Co-chairs for the peace process.

The economy of the United States is dependent on China. More than half of the US foreign reserves have been purchased by China. It plays a pivotal role in the world economy today, he said. The economic development rate in the EU counties has become negative. Minister Ranawaka said the forthcoming Government will uphold political stability by making dramatic changes to the constitution.

The government has focused on the amendment of the existing Constitution. He said the electoral system will also be reformed by the next Government in the first six months of forming the Government.

The Minister refused the allegation that the Government has fully utilized the funds provided by the IMF in several tranches. He said the country's foreign reserves was at US $ 1.2 billion and it grew up to US $ 5.2 billion with the receipt of the IMF loan.

The next government formed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa with an overwhelming majority will reduce the budget deficit to a certain level. The Minister said the UNP's economic policy based on neo liberalism has achieved nothing during its tenure.

He said the Government succeeded in maintaining the economic development rate at six percent or above from 2007 except 2009 and the country's economic development rate will be above six percent this year.

The Minister said the Opposition is talking of good governance but the party Secretary General said the Moneragala nomination list signed by him has changed without his knowledge.

Minister Ranawaka in reply to the allegation made by former parliamentarian Wijedasa Rajapaksa said the Government has fulfilled more than 450 out of 600 pledges outlined in the Mahinda Chintana policy framework.

He added the Government eliminated terrorism and ensured the rule of law in every inch of the country. The UNP and their cronies created in the mindset of the people that the LTTE terrorists were invincible.

He said the country was in tatters and part of the country was under the defacto control of separatists when the country was taken over the Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He added UNP members should no longer take permission from the Norwegian embassy to travel to Jaffna. Every citizen in the country has the freedom to travel anywhere in the country. Former Parliamentarian Wijedasa Rajapaksa said the UNF Government will make elaborate arrangements to purchase paddy from farmers, if they come to power.