• Party leaders critical of Govt deviating from mandate   
• Maithri joins chorus   

By Kelum Bandara   

Eleven constituent parties of the government put forward a set of proposals under the title ‘Taking the Country on the Right Path’ to overcome the current economic crisis.  

 The proposals were unveiled at a grand programme held at a leading hotel in Sri Jayewardenepura, Colombo yesterday.   

The parties are Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), National Freedom Front, Democratic Left Front, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Communist Party, National Congress, Our People’s Party, Sri Lanka Mahajana Party and Yuthukama Organization.   

In the proposals, the parties suggest a mechanism to strengthen the local economy instead of depending on imports. The appointment of a Presidential Commission to probe scams related to tax on sugar, coconut oil, institution of legal action on the bond fraud, abolition of concessions given to importers of sugar, coconut oil, wheat flour and milk powder are among the proposals.   

NFF Leader Industry Minister Wimal Weerawansa, in a scathing attack on Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, said the latter had failed to have a dialogue with the Central Bank for the last six months despite the gravity of the crisis. He said the Finance Minister seems to be maintaining stoic silence in the face of the unfolding crisis to see Sri Lanka lurching from disaster to disaster.   

Mr. Weerawansa said an adamant, arrogant leadership could not address the country’s problems. “We have to seek advice from experts on the way forward,” he said.   SLFP leader former President Maithripala Sirisena said the government should be flexible enough to listen to other parties during this trying time. He said the government should consult the international community including the UN to find a way out of this crisis.