Aug 05, Colombo: President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that he is planning to present an interim budget in the first week of September and through the interim budget he will provide several concessions and relief to the people

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the aim of an all-party government is to turn the parliament into a government and make decisions for the building of the country.

The President made this observation, when he met with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the group of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MPs including Professor G.L. Peiris and Dullas Alahapperuma yesterday (04) afternoon at the President’s Office to discuss the establishment of an all-party government, President’s Media Division said.

The President also said that the 22nd Constitution Amendment Bill has been submitted to the Parliament this year, and it is best to discuss it and reach a common agreement. The President said he expects the support of all the parties in Parliament to form and All-Party Government and pass the 22nd Amendment. President Wickramasinghe said that steps will be taken to establish parliamentary sectoral oversight committees immediately and plans are made to provide office facilities to their chairpersons and added that the country needs a highly efficient service from the public service.

Mr. Wickramasinghe indicated that he is ready to call the chairpersons of the sectoral oversight committees to the cabinet.

Leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, former President Maithripala Sirisena thanked President Wickremesinghe for respecting the proposal presented by the SLFP for an all-party government and said that his party would give full support for an all-party government.

SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said that an all-party government should be formed according to recognized system and pointed out that everyone should work together to make it successful.

SLFP National Organizer MP Duminda Dissanayake pointed out that the change demanded by the people has already happened and said that it is everyone’s responsibility to take steps to turn the country on to the right path without losing the opportunities that were lost at the time of the tsunami as well as the war victory.

The program consisting of 11 proposals presented by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party for an all-party government was also given to President Ranil Wickramasinghe.

Members of Parliament Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Jagath Pushpakumara, Angajan Ramanathan also participated in this discussion.

In the discussion held with the SLPP group including Prof. Peiris and Dullas Alahapperuma, the President said that in order to formulate an economic plan suitable for 10 years, everyone should lay the foundation for it.

Mr. Wickramasinghe pointed out that the collapse of the economy and hunger led to the beginning of the protests and claimed that the protesters ended the struggle with violence at the last moment.

He also said that if the parliament was not protected from rioters then, there would be no opportunity to discuss democracy together in this way today.

“There is an optimistic expectation of an all-party government,” Prof. G. L. Peiris said and pointed out that it is not something that should change at all.

Speaking at the discussion, MP Alahapperuma said that everyone should be prepared to discuss to set up a proper all-party government.

Members of Parliament Dilan Perera, Charitha Herath and Nalaka Godahewa also participated in the discussion.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Advisor to the President on Parliamentary Affairs Professor Ashu Marasinghe, Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, President’s Additional Secretary Lawyer Chaminda Kularatne also participated in the discussions.