SLFP welcomes President’s moderate statement – Dayasiri

National People’s Power (NPP) leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that they are not ready to be a part of an All-Party Government without a specific time frame. Dissanayake made this observation at a press brief held in Colombo on President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s policy statement presented to the House yesterday (3). Dissanayake said that inviting to be a part of Wickremesinghe – Rajapaksa camp is not the essence of an All-Party Government.

Dissanayake pointed out that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has not announced a time frame for the all-party government he is calling to form.

Dissanayake noted that in all the proposals presented by the Mahanayaka Theras and the Bar Association requested to establish an Interim Government only for a short period of time.

Dissanayake further stated that the President has not stated the responsibility assigned to this interim government, the role of that government and how long the interim government will be limited to and thus, he noted that the NPP would not support such an all-party government.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Freedom Party General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said that the Throne Speech delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday is a moderate statement made by a President after a long time.

Jayasekara also stated that he believes that the contents included in it will not be limited to mere words.

“The President’s speech included the issues faced by the public. I have known President Wickremesinghe over a long period and having been the Prime Minister of this country on several occasions, I believe that his policy statement included many ideas he had in his head for a long time that he would implement in the event he became President. However, it is easier said than done. Therefore, we sincerely hope as the SLFP, that the President would succeed in implementing the ideas that he has presented through his policy statement.”

With regard to the formation of an All-Party Government, Jayasekara said that the SLFP believes that it will happen very soon.

“This is something that we have been saying over a long time. As a party, our party Leader Maithripala Sirisena and the rest of the party will discuss this matter and we will take a collective decision on whether or not we could join the government,” he said.

Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance Mano Ganesan said in order to uplift the country, the national issue must be addressed first and foremost.

“What we need is to highlight our Sri Lankan nationality and not to highlight religion, race or divisions based on these divisions. This was highlighted in the President’s speech and I am happy about it.”

MP Ganesan said the speech highlighted the need to unite as Sri Lankans while the statement had nothing prompting divisions, which was a welcome sign.

However, MP Ganesan said that the most vital factor is that the contents of the policy statement should be implemented. He also said that as a party to the SJB led alliance, his party had the freedom to take decisions independently. However, he said that discussions were being continued with the SJB on supporting the President and his government. “We have urged the SJB leadership to look at this policy statement positively,” he added.

SJB parliamentarian Dr. Rajith Senaratne said the Samagi Janabalawegaya will continue to discuss further on whether or not they would support President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government,

Speaking to the media subsequent to the parliamentary activities yesterday, he said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe had presented in his policy statement the same vision he had from the start of his political journey. He said that he had to face many obstacles as a result.

Senaratne noted that if the President can implement the policies that he presented in his policy statement, that would be an ideal situation.

SJB Parliamentarian Mujibur Rahuman said that most of the contents in the policy statement presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe is in tune with the policies of the 2015 and 2019 ‘Good Governance’ regime policies.

“In his policy statement, President Ranil Wickremesinghe had commended the essence of the policies included in the Good Governance policies of 2015 and 2019 and had included its essence in his policy statement.” When asked if this means that he could therefore accept President Wickremesinghe’s invitation and join the government, Rahuman said that he would consider it in due course.

Most of the contents in the policy statement presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe is in tune with the policies of the 2015 and 2019 Good Governance regime policies, said SJB Parliamentarian Mujubur Rahuman.

“In his policy statement, President Ranil Wickremesinghe had commended the essence of the policies included in the Good Governance policies of 2015 and 2019 and had included its essence in his policy statement.”

When asked if this means that he could therefore accept President Wickremesinghe’s invitation and join the government, Rahuman said that he would consider it in due course.