All parties should work together to rebuild country - FM

At a time when the President has won the hearts of all the communities after freeing the country defeating terrorism, all the parties should come to a common consensus to reappoint President Mahinda Rajapaksa unanimously for the second time as President of this country, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said.

Minister Bogollagama made this request after he paid a courtesy call on the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter Most. Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera in Kandy yesterday.

People who were confined to party politics, came forward to support the Government to eradicate terrorism in Sri Lanka. They are now rejoicing over the victory.

Political parties here should work according to a national agenda so that we can give a good message to the international community that we have a common approach to national problems. This will also minimise external pressure on Sri Lanka, Minister Bogollagama said.

There are nearly 300,000 Internationally Displaced People in the Vanni. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is generally satisfied over the relief measures undertaken by the Government. What is needed now is the general consensus among political parties here in our effort to rebuild the country.

It is time that all political parties should lend their support without giving a wrong picture of Sri Lanka for political mileage, Minister Bogollagama said. “We have to provide education to 40,000 schoolchildren among the displaced. Land mines have to be removed from these areas.

Several countries have come forward to assist us in this rehabilitation program. These countries have already donated nearly Rs. 20 billion towards these humanitarian efforts, the Minister said.

Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddharatha Sumangala Thera said that all Sri Lankans should be happy about the emergence of a righteous ruler in this country. It is time we changed the present electoral system by making necessary amendments while retaining the services of the President, the Mahanayake Thera said.