There are no MPs in the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) who will betray their party or their souls for privileges offered by the government, said Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, speaking to media at the Opposition Leader’s Office today (14).
Pointing out that some media bodies were spreading false rumours and trying to back the government, the Opposition Leader emphasised that it is the united objective of all SJB MPs to fulfill the aspirations of the people of the country.
The MP team of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has met with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa this (14) morning and agreed to extend their support to the new government led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
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MIAP
MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, who had initially been endorsing the idea of joining the new government on due formation led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, has changed dis decision today (14), internal sources disclosed.
Although Ranawaka himself and several other members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) close to the 43 Senankaya Leader had decided to join the Wickremesinghe-led government from the beginning, talks have been surfacing within the group that the mistakes made during the 2015 Good Governance regime should not be allowed to happen again.
Following close observation on the proceedings of Wickremesinghe since his swearing in, the group has concluded that the UNP Leader is preparing to return to his usual ways of administration. Sources further claimed that Ranawaka was convinced that the government due on formation may not be able to secure a long-run given the manner in which the selection process for appointments is being carried out, the persons selected for the tasks and the Committee appointed by Wickremesinghe to supply essential commodities amidst such a questionable conduct.
The Committee appointed by the Prime Minister comprises of well known UNP figures, Ruwan Wijewardena, Sagala Ratnayake, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Vajira Abeywardena and Palitha Range Bandara.
In the backdrop, Ranawaka has told his close associates that he has no intention of ending his political career by submitting himself to a ministerial post in a government which probably will meet its end in about two and a half months being accountable for its familiar corrupt conduct, sources further claimed.
Four Cabinet Ministers representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna have been sworn in this (14) afternoon.
Prof. G.L. Peiris – Minister of Foreign Affairs
Dinesh Gunawardena – Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government
Prasanna Ranatunga – Minister of Urban Development and Housing
Kanchana Wijesekara – Minister of Power and Energy
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in a letter has invited Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa to form a non-partisan government by reaching beyond the traditional parliamentary politics.
Wickremesinghe called on all parties to join hands in fulfilling the national responsibility of resolving the burning issues of the people without delay by putting a collective effort in the objective of stabilising the country economically and socially.
MIAP
The extraordinary gazette declaring Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has been issued last (13) night.
MIAP
MP Udaya Gammanpila says that although they will not attempt to overthrow the government as there should be a government to run a country, they have no trust in Ranil Wickremesinghe either.
He said that his history did not set the stage for such confidence.
However, if the agenda pursued by Ranil Wickremesinghe when he was in power is not further implemented and the country continues to act in a manner that does not further abyss, he said that they can act in a manner that does not destabilize the government.
Traffic at the Navinna Junction on the High Level Road and the Baseline Road leading to Colombo has been blocked due to public protests demanding gas.
Despite being told that gas will be available today, the people are protesting by blocking the road due to the lack of gas in the distribution centers.
On the 8th, residents of the area blocked the Navinna Junction on the High-Level Road and staged a protest against the non-availability of gas.
It is reported that a discussion between the President and the independent members of parliament is to be held at the President’s Residence this morning (14).
It is said that with the appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new Prime Minister, the future political activities of the country will be discussed.
The group and the President have been in discussions for some time and despite their opposition to Ranil Wickremesinghe, the group stated at a media briefing in Colombo yesterday that they are ready to support the good work being done by the new government.
However, the SLFP had stated that it would not support the government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Lakshman Hulugalle, the Consul General of Sri Lanka in Sydney, Australia has passed away.
He passed away in Australia this morning (14) at the age of 66.
During Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency, Hulugalle served as the Director General of the Media Center for National Security.
