Steps will be taken to obtain the assistance of political party leaders and their representatives who represented the last Parliament for the Government’s program for preventing the Covid-19 spread in the country, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stated today.
Prime Minister Rajapaksa arrived at this decision at a meeting with the Party leaders and their representatives who represented the last Parliament, at Temple Trees yesterday. The Prime Minister made this decision after taking into the views expressed by the party leaders and their representatives into consideration.
The opinions of the party leaders and their representatives will also be taken into consideration in the prevention of Covid-19 in the future.
A comprehensive program is under way centering the National Operation Centre for the Prevention of Covid-19 outbreak in the country on the directive of the Government.
Party leaders commended the measures taken by the Government to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the country and also assured their fullest cooperation towards the measures to be taken by the Government in this regard in the future.
Health Services Director General Dr Anil Jasinghe apprised the party leaders and their representatives on the present situation in the country. The Party leaders also focused on the impact caused by the outbreak on country’s economy and measures that need to be taken to mitigate its impact on economy.
They also stressed the importance of continuing the present program to provide essential commodities to the public.
Prime Minister Rajapaksa said that arrangements have been made for the people to buy essential commodities through Cooperatives and Lak Sathosa outlets and this program will be further streamlined in the future.
The participants also discussed about the opening of tea factories and plucking of tea leaves and keeping the wholesale shops open to provide relief to the people.
UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe while commending the measures taken by the government said the curfew should be imposed to prevent the congregation of people.
He also proposed to continue the leave granted to the employees who are not in the compulsory services.
Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya also commended the government’s program and requested the Government to put in place a mechanism for the people to purchase essential commodities without any inconvenience.
The Party leaders pointed out that fishing communities are facing inconvenience as their produce are not allowed to be transported during the curfew. The Prime Minister in turn instructed the Acting IGP to make arrangements to ensure that fishermen can transport their produce without any hassle.
Several Party leaders were of the view that Parliament should be reconvened. However the majority was of the view that they should extend their full support to the present national programme aiming at preventing the outbreak of Covid-19 instead of re-convening the parliament.
UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Former President Maithripala Sirisena, Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Ministers Dinesh Gunawardene, Bandula Gunawardena, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Wimal Weerawansa, former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, and SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem, former Parliamentarians S Sumanthiran, Udaya Gammanpila and several other political representatives were present.
