Govt. pays salaries, provides welfare while developing country – Johnston

Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando says the government has enough funds to continue its development work while paying the salaries of public servants.

Responding to journalists’ questions during a ceremony at Pamankada to plant saplings along the stretch of road from the W.A. Silva Mawatha to the Pamankada Bridge as a part of a project to plant two million saplings along the roads and highways, the Minister said that the Opposition was spreading a lie that the government had no funds.

“We continue to pay the salaries of all public servants without any reduction on time even if they are at home because of the pandemic. How could we do so if we do not have funds? Our financial policies are stronger than those of the Yahapalana regime that are confronted with cash flow problems even without a pandemic. It is no secret that the revenue generation is lower than that of normal times, but that does not mean we are cash starving and on the verge of bankruptcy. It is the Opposition which says so. We have sufficient funds to continue our development,” the Minister said.

Asked to comment on the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s call to hold elections, the Minister said that Premadasa would have been able to know his standing among the public if an election was held. “He is the one who once opposed elections and called for summoning Parliament soon after the presidential election. As long as he holds the post of Opposition leader our government is better off.said.

Asked to comment on State Minister Lohan Ratwatte’s recent visits to Prisons to watch the gallows and unruly behavior, Minister Fernando said Ratwatte as the Minister of Prisons had all the rights to visit prisons. “Since I was not there I am not in a position to tell you what exactly happened. Minister Ratwatte has tendered his resignation and the President has accepted it. What would have happened if the President had not accepted that resignation? The Opposition used to say that whenever there is something controversial the authorities involved in such controversy should resign as in the manner of other developed countries. Minster Ratwatte did the exact same but none is recognising it. Have those who robbed the Central Bank resigned even after the media exposed them? Has the Opposition leader resigned when the media exposed how he had detailed employees assigned to his post to work at his wife’s salon? Did he at least tender a public apology? This resignation shows that we have discipline.”

Asked to comment on Minister Ratwatte still holding another portfolio and criminal charges against him, the Minister said that Ratwatte was still the State Minister of Gem and Jewellery.  “There are charges and allegations but we have to investigate them first. We cannot judge a person by allegations against him. There is a principle called presumption of innocence until proven guilty and that is a constitutional right every person in this country enjoys. Minister Ratwatte too is entitled to that right. We have to wait till the reports of the investigations. It is wrong for me to state my opinion while an investigation is pending,” the Minister said.

As per the project to plant tree saplings of environmentally friendly trees such as Koboneela (Bauhinia purpurea), the Golden shower or Ehala (Cassia fistula), Robarosiya (Tabebuia Rosea), Na tree (Mesua ferrea), Magul Karanda (Pongamia pinnata), and Murutha (the queen of flower tree –Lagerstroemia speciosa) are to be planted along the W.A. Silva Mawatha to the Pamankada Bridge.

Among those present were Secretary to the Minister R.W.R. Pemasiri and Chairman of Road Development Authority Chaminda Athaluwage and project director and officials.