Sirisena leads collective of govt parties; tells govt to come to the table to solve issues

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has called on the government to be more flexible to discuss the issues that have burdened the people.

"The people are in dire straits and in anger. We must cast aside our party differences and call for an all-party convention that will be represented by the leaders of all parties in Parliament," Sirisena, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, told an event in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte on Wednesday (2).

He was speaking at the launch of a resolution 'Taking The Nation On The Correct Path' to solve the economic crisis suffered by Sri Lanka.

A collective of 11 political parties affiliated with the government was present to launch its National Statement “Mulu Ratama Hari Magata” and it comprised of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the Democratic Leftist Party, Lanka Samasamaja Party, the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, the National Freedom Front, the National Congress, the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya, the Vijaya Dharani National Council, the Eksath Mahajana Pakshaya and Yuthukama National Movement.

Maithripala Sirisena said that before the 2020 Parliamentary Elections, the Sri Lanka Nidahas Podujana Sandanaya was formed and he was appointed as its Chair, however, to-date this alliance has not met.

"If this is how they want to work, how can we express our views to the government?" lamented the Former Head of State, adding without dialogue one cannot solve issues.

He said it is for this very reason that 11 political parties affiliated with the government were brought to one common platform to raise their issues.

"The government is responsible for forcing the 11 parties with 30 MPs to meet separately," he said while calling on the opposition to come to the table for a common goal, rather than dreaming about securing power in governance.