Milinda.org

Information and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday lauded Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya and former Minister Milinda Moragoda for falling in harmony with the Government to implement the programs towards the rehabilitation of the country in the aftermath of tsunami tidal wave disaster.

The concept of harmonious development activity among all political parties at least temporarily, till the country is revived is a policy advocated and pursued by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga even before the incident of the tsunami catastrophe, the Minister said in a release.

It is heartening to hear statements by opposition stalwarts, some times uttered in the presence of international leaders, that they are now falling in line with this concept of the President, he said.

The release added: "Under a situation of this nature, when according to Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya is efficiently playing an important role in the rehabilitation process, it is sad that a segment of unimportant members of the UNP are engaged in a different process of criticising the rehabilitation process in an irresponsible manner using the media to put self interest before the country."

The Minister appealed to the UNP members of this quality to abandon this policy and act with a spirit of "country before the party" and rally round the common banner of the nation to retrieve the country out of the present crisis and base their aspirations on optimism to usher in a new political culture.