COURTESY CALL: The UNP reformist group led by Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Karu Jayasuriya who paid a courtesy call on the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera in conversation with the Prelate. )

KANDY: It is the strongest section of the UNP which has joined the government with the objective of providing solutions to the country’s burning problems including the North East problem said the Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter.

The Mahanayake Thera made this observation when eleven members of the UNP reformist group led by Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Karu Jayasuriya called on him at the Malwatte Maha Viharaya in Kandy yesterday to receive his blessings after they were sworn in as Ministers and Deputy Ministers the previous day.

Among others who called on him were Plan Implementation Minister P. Dayaratne, Supplementary Crops Development Minister R.M. Dharmadasa Banda, Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Sports and Public Recreation Minister Gamini Lokuge, Trade Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Construction and Engineering Services Minister Dr. Rajitha Seneratne, Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene, Investment Promotion Minister Naveen Dissanayake, Enterprise Development Minister Mano Wijeyaratne and Land and Land Development Deputy Minister Chandrasiri Suriyarachchi.

The Malwatte Prelate said he was extremely pleased to see such a group who had held responsible portfolios and rendered vital service to the country earlier joining hands with the government. The additions of such a group of capable people would strengthen governments’ hands and enable it to carry forward its work more vigorously.

The Malwatte Prelate said the Maha Sangha had always maintained the position that a consensus between the two main political parties would ensure quick solutions to the country’s problems.

He said a vital responsibility had been cast on the shoulders of the newly appointed Ministers and added that they should dedicate themselves towards solving country’s burning problems in accordance with the Mahinda Chinthanaya.

Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Karu Jayasuriya said the Maha Sangha had always emphasised the need for a consensus between the two main parties for resolving country’s burning problems. Although a MOU was signed between the SLFP and the UNP last October for finding solutions to burning problem it failed due to the absence of a mechanism to ensure its implementation.

He said the strongest section of the UNP and a grouping of small parties were today co-operating with the government and the government almost looked like a national government though not in the true sense of this word.

Jayasuriya said they would extend their fullest assistance and co-operation to the government until the next general elections.

Earlier Jayasuriya and group of Ministers visited the Sri Dalada Maligawa and paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic. After receiving blessings from Ven. Hunupolagama Vajira Sri Thera they met Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela Bandara for a brief exchange of views.