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President’s 100-day programme gets top priority: Gayantha
View(s):Implementing President Sirisena’s 100-day plan is listed a top priority in the new Government with ministers being instructed to carry out their tasks without further delay.
Cabinet Spokesman MinisterGayantha Karunathilake told the Sunday Times, the 100-day relief measures are being discussed at this week’s meetings.
“On Friday, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met ministers representing the United National Party. They were told to implement the programmes under their respective ministries effectively without any delay,” he said.
He said most of the ministers assumed duties this Friday, and all are focused on implementing relief measures under their ministries.
This week Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said that prices of ten essential commodities including fuel will be brought down when an interim budget is presented to Parliament on January 29.
According to the 100-day programme Parliament will meet on January 19 and 20 when oversight committees are to be set up. The committees will consist of members who are not in the Cabinet but represent all parties.
On January 21, the new government is to present the 19th Amendment to the Constitution that will annul the 18th Amendment and establish the independent commissions.
On January 28, the Government plans to appoint an all party committee to make proposals on measures to scrap the present preference vote system and introduce a new electoral system.
On January 29, a vote of account will be introduced in Parliament to implement special measures to provide relief to the people. This will have the immediate relief such as bringing down prices of essential goods.
On January 30 the Government plans state it will increase salaries and reduce direct and indirect taxes on essential goods and services.
The 100-day programme pledges to increase the salary of State employees by Rs.10,000 and as a first step a Rs.5,000 increase is planned to be added to the February salary.
Minister Karunathilake said the National Executive Council which held its inaugural meeting on Thursday, discussed a number of measures that were in the 100-day programme.
“Introducing the Right to Information Act and the National Drug Policy were discussed at the meeting. Measures are already being taken to implement these Acts,” he said.
President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, People’s Liberation Front Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Jathika Hela Urumaya Leader Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, Democratic Party Leader Sarath Fonseka and Minister Rishad Bathiudeen of the All Ceylon Muslim Congress attended the inaugural meeting.