We will give what the public wants-Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera spoke of several tasks which were carried out by the current government for the well being of the country and the people of it today (August 29). Mangala Samaraweera noted that several projects were introduced via the third phase of Gamperaliya and he would allocate an additional Rs 100mn for all electorates. He also explained about the "gym culture" which was to be introduced for every village, he added that they have allocated Rs 1 mn to grant gym equipment for societies across the island. He also shared his thoughts on SLPP presidential candidate "Gota-Bhiya Rajapaksa" and noted how the very person who talks about a disciplined society today assumed military control during the previous regime. The Minister talked about that how they acquired lands for their development; threats etc. The Minister continued on how the current government spent Rs 56.7bn in 2019 to compensate for those who lost their lands. He added that they have already cleared the debts for the time period until October 2020 while the inflation is at a low rate of 2.3%. He finally added that the Sri Lankan economy which was in the "ICU" has been cleared off to the normal ward. The Minister denied the disciplinary inquiry regarding several party members and noted that the chairman had rejected it. He shared that a single individual is unable to call a disciplinary inquiry and it has to go through the working committee and in this case it had not. Meanwhile, Minister Mangala Samaraweera hosted a party at his residence yesterday and a group of MPs and Ministers from the UNP attended the occasion. Minister Sajith Premadasa, Deputy Leader of the UNP shared that the discussions were related to the political environment and the boundaries. Minister added that the presidential candidate would be announced in good time. He also added that the leadership of the UNP and himself have always been on the same page; they will always stand together. Minister added that he is not concerned about the President's and the Prime Minister's discussions over the abolishment the executive presidency as he himself would abolish it if the public is in favour. Sujeewa Senasinghe, Non-Cabinet Minister of Science, Technology & Research noted that they would not delay the presidential candidate anymore and the announcement will be made within 2-3 weeks. Nalin Bandara, Deputy Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade confirmed it and added: "we will be giving what the public wants". Dr Harsha de Silva, Non-Cabinet Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution confidently stated that Minister Sajith Premadasa won't just be the candidate and he would end up the president. He added that the rumours regarding the abolishment of the executive presidency are not official and it would not occur at this situation. Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Minister of Public Administration and Disaster Management confirmed that Sajith Premadasa would be the candidate and noted that the disciplinary inquiries could not be conducted when a presidential candidate of a country is a democratic right. Meanwhile, Chairman of the United National Party Minister Kabir Hashim, expressed a similar view regarding the presidential candidate and Minister Sajith Premadasa during an event in Minuwandeniya, Ginigathhena today (August 29). Minister Kabir Hashim noted that it is not a secret anymore that everyone is talking about Minister Sajith Premadasa. He added that as a disciplined party that it is, their leader is committed to the party. He finally added that they will discuss the matter directly and come to a learned decision.