Transport Minister Dilum Amunugama yesterday said that a group from the Government itself is striving to form a wider political alliance against the Government by making use of economic situation in the country.
Speaking at a press conference at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Head Office in Battaramulla, Minister Amunugama said a conference organized by 11 coalition partners of the Government was a futile attempt aimed at attacking President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and the programme adopted by the Government to ensure sustainable development in the country.
“Parliamentarians Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila said the 11 minor parties joined together to formulate a set of proposals with the sole intention of putting the Government on the right track.”
“However, these parties resorted to attacking the Government and its programme of work instead of making a set of proposals to the Government at the conference which was held on Wednesday at Sri Jayawardanapura.”
The Minister said they were committed to bring former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to power after he was defeated at the 2015 Presidential Election, where the Yahapalana Government was elected.
“They made a valuable contribution in bringing former President Mahinda Rajapaksa into power again and we do not want to underestimate the contribution they made in that respect,” he said.
Amunugama added that the Government with a two-thirds majority was formed by bringing all forces under the SLPP’s fold.
However the Transport Minister said that they cannot be allowed to attack the President, the Finance Minister and the Government’s programme of work while still holding key Ministerial portfolios in the same Government.
“Their removal is a policy decision taken by the President. Every Member of the Cabinet is collectively responsible for any action taken by the Government,” he remarked.
He said that if the country has enough foreign exchange, there is no need even to have a Minister to purchase requirement of fuel for the country. Then, even an accountant can purchase the country’s oil requirements.
State Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said that the removal of the two Ministers is not a unilateral decision of the President.
He said that a discussion was held under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in this regard on Thursday in the presence of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaska, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers and Parliamentarians.
“This decision was taken after taking into consideration all their views,” he said.