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Get working: Ranil tells UNP ministers at first meeting
Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe used his first meeting with the newly appointed Ministers, State Ministers and Deputy Ministers of the United National Party (UNP) to drive home the message that they need to get working immediately, to achieve the targets set under the 100-Day Programme. He also gave them a practical lesson on why they should avoid being extravagant while in office, and said their security details too should be limited.
During the nearly two-hour meeting on Friday afternoon at Temple Trees, the official residence of PM Wickremesinghe, he told UNP members that it was important to prioritise the work that should get done in the first 100 days in office, following which, they would have to go before the people to seek re-election at a Parliamentary election.
The PM advised those who attend meetings with him, be clad either in lounge or national dress.
Earlier on Friday, the PM, along with his wife Maithree and his staff, formally began work at Temple Trees with a brief religious ceremony. The PM said Temple trees would be used only as the official secretariat, while he would not reside there.To see the extravagant lifestyle of the previous occupants of Temple Trees, PM Wickremesinghe invited a group of UNP members to take a tour of the premises, which they did in the company of media personnel.
The UNP members also scrutinised several documents left behind strewn on tables and on the floor at Temple Trees.
It is not clear if an inventory was handed over by the administrators of the previous regime when they vacated the residence.
| PM gives last warning to latecomers The delay by some members to make it on time for their maiden official meeting with PM Ranil Wickremesinghe scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday, apparently displeased the PM. After all had arrived, the PM told the late entrants they would have to be on time for future meetings, as no excuses for such delays would be entertained. Some late arrivals said they were delayed by heavy traffic. |