SLFP & UNP should work together as a Govt. for the benefit of people: Maithri

The SLFP and the UNP should work together as a government without party differences for the benefit of the people, President Maithripala Sirisena said. "Politically, we are all responsible and answerable to the country and the people,” he said. When considering the income and living standard of the people of this country, there are about 27 percent low income earners in the Polonnaruwa district when the Samurdhi programme started in 1994 while the low income group of families accounted for 51 percent in the district. Now, after 20 years, it had dropped to 26 percent following the implementation of the Janasaviya by President Ranasinghe Premadasa, Samurdhi by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Divi Neguma by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, President Sirisena added. "The success of these programmes can be measured from the economic and social advancement achieved by the people through them. As such I wish to extend my greetings and good wishes to this programme," the President said when he inaugurated the Rs. 100,000 self-employment loan scheme for low income families and the granting of Rs. 100,000 each to 467 farmer organizations in Polonnaruwa for the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes damaged by floods. The ceremony was held at the Buddhi Mandapaya, Polonnaruwa organised by the Housing and Samurdhi Ministry. The President said he considered the provisions of funds to farmer organisations for repair of irrigation schemes as a very important programme towards the uplift of the economic standard of the people. "It would also help to minimize poverty and build a prosperous economy. It is only three months since this government assumed office. We have just started our work," he said. "We will go for a general election in another month or two and after that we will be able to streamline work more clearly," he said. President Sirisena said he was certain that the present political and other problems evident to the people would be resolved after the next general election. "Everyone should join hands and work in unison to rebuild the country's future," the President added.