Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Saturday, 14 May 2022 01:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Chandani Kirinde
The 10-party alliance led by former Ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) said yesterday they will not accept any ministerial portfolios in the Government of newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, but will extend support to the programs to revive the economy.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena said that the SLFP had been invited to join the Cabinet but had declined the offer. “We sent our proposals to the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to set up an all-party interim Government and held several rounds of talks with him. But he appointed Ranil Wickremesinghe and it was done in a manner that is contrary to the spirit of forming an interim Government,” he said.
Sirisena said that the SLFP will not be a part of the new Government but will extend its support to the proposals that are meant to address the economic issues of the people.
“There are critical problems facing the people of the country including the high cost of living, shortages of gas, fuel, medicines, fertiliser as well as power cuts and we need to address them. We will extend the necessary support to revive the economy but not join the Government,” he said.
MP Wimal Weerawansa of the 10-party alliance said yesterday that they too will extend support to Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Government only for proposals that are brought to help the country overcome the economic crisis.
“We will sit in the Opposition and extend support, when necessary,“ said Weerawansa, who along with Udaya Gammanpila, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Tissa Vitarana and several others addressed a press briefing.
He also said the 10-party alliance had submitted proposals for an interim Government and requested the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to step down a month ago to avoid the kind of situation that has arisen today.
“If he resigned two weeks ago, we wouldn’t be in this situation. Delaying his departure not only led to violence against peaceful protestors but also attacks on homes of politicians as well as deaths. Today he is forced to live in hiding,” Weerawansa said.
