Members of the Government & Opposition unite to condemn National Government proposal

COLOMBO (News 1st) - While the people of the country are facing a plethora of issues on many fronts, the main issue in the political arena is the formation of a national government The leader of the House Minister Lakshman Kiriella handed over a letter to the General Secretary of Parliament last Friday containing a proposal that the United National Party has formed a National Government. However, at present, the said proposal is receiving a great deal of backlash both from the opposition as well as from within the Government. UNP BACKLASH Deputy Minister of Skills Development & Vocational Training, Karunarathna Paranavithana while noting that they had formed a national Government on an earlier occasion, explained that there were many forces that did not allow them to function. He noted that with the current state of the country, there no longer is any room for tomfoolery in Parliament. Non-Cabinet Minister of Economic Reform and Public Distribution, Dr Harsha De Silva, speaking to the media stated that it is his personal belief that it would be best for the country to maintain a 30 member cabinet UNP MP Thushara Indunil believes that instead of burdening the people with more ministers, during this period where there is a possibility of a general election, the Government should function with the existing group of ministers. OPPOSITION BACKLASH Meanwhile, UPFA MP S. M. Chandrasena questioned if Lakshman Kiriella being a lawyer knows the definition of a national government. Chandrasena noted that the two parties forming a national government have to be national level parties. He noted that this is a fraud. UPFA MP Shehan Semasinghe claimed that Lakshman Kiriella has never forwarded a proposal that is of use to the country but all of which had benefits to his own party. He further noted that once a proposal on creating a national government is brought to the parliament that they will take measures to defeat it, adding that they are also monitoring the behaviour of the JVP. Commenting on the matter Convenor of the Voice Against corruption Wasantha Samarasinghe noted that they will not support the government on this cause because irrelevant of a national government or not that the issues of the people will not be solved through it. MP Dullas Alahapperuma believes that the Speaker should not include the proposal in his agenda and that they will obtain an injunction order against the matter. He further requested the President to not allow a single minister or deputy minister to take oaths even if this is passed. However, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that he believes that the TNA must also join with the government and work for the people of their areas without working towards an Eelam dream. The TNA claims that their stance on the national government remains unchanged and that they do not require such a concept for the country. Meanwhile, Senior Lawyer/Convenor of the Rata Surakimu movement Chrishmal Warnasuriya said that if a citizen with social responsibility goes to the Supreme Court against this matter similar to what happened in December last year that it will reveal the real reason behind drafting the 19th amendment. Yesterday Parliamentarian Dr.Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said that the definition of a national government that is presently included in the constitution is not the definition that was approved by parliament. UPFA Southern Provincial Councillor, Nishantha Pushpakumara said that just like Ranil Wickremesinghe had once changed the party constitution to protect his party leadership that he is now attempting to do anything in his power in order to protect the Prime Ministership.