President tells Opposition:

Focus national issues in a wider perspective

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his reply speech to the Budget debate 2014 called upon the Opposition to look at the national issues as a unified nation irrespective of political differences.

This pragmatic approach by the President has to be appreciated by one and all, the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

The President reiterated the need to focus on national issues in a wider perspective regardless of political affiliations. He also referred to instances where criticism was levelled without any valid reason.

The President dealt with key issues raised by Opposition members and gave precise answers, the Minister said. “The President’s reply speech on the Budget debate is a landmark in that none of his predecessors in their capacity as Finance Ministers were ever present in Parliament to respond to the queries by Opposition members during their Budget debates, he said.

The decision by the President to deliver the reply speech of the Budget should be commended. It showed yet another instance of the President’s commitment to democracy.” the Minister said.

The President also stressed the importance of the Government and the Opposition working together on common and national issues.

The President also made an open invitation to the Opposition to cooperate with the Government to evolve homegrown solutions to promote national reconciliation and development, Minister Rambukwella said.