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| Sunday, 23 January 2005 |
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Politics | Today's Top Story |  |
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Govt. ready to work with everybody - PM by M. P. Muttiah Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, says the government is ready to work together with everybody, including civil society in rebuilding the nation. Petty differences, such as political, ethnic and religion should be forgotten, he said. Speaking at the inauguration of a Symposium on National Integration and Economic Reconstruction, in Colombo yesterday the Premier said US $ 18 million was needed to complete the first two phases of rehabilitation and reconstruction in tsunami affected areas. Rajapaksa said that people did not want to confine themselves in camps. They were in urgent need of independence that they had enjoyed. The Government is considering cash grants to the internally displaced so that they could start their normal living as early as possible. Small scale businessmen as well as fishermen too would be given assistance that would give them confidence in the future. "The government has three sets of tasks, that of public infrastructure, rehabilitation and reconstruction, and, improvement of efficiency, the Prime Minister said. Schools that are closed would be opened soon to enable the children to continue their studies. Highways and other roads would be reconstructed, the Prime Minister added. Religious, ethnic or any other differences did not stand in the way when tsunami diaster occurred. This is a good example how we could rebuild the nation with the same spirit we showed on December 26 and after. National decisions should be made with due consideration to the ground situation. Humanism should be the motto of everybody, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister said that the government had done its best since December 26. Fr. Paul Caspersz SJ chaired the symposium. |
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