Minister seeks Opposition’s support to navigate Sri Lanka through tough times

By Sanath Nanayakkare 

Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena speaking in parliament yesterday requested the Opposition to proactively engage with the government to find solutions to minimise the burdens placed on the people as the coronavirus pandemic continued to wreak havoc on their economic opportunities. 

Some members of the Opposition had advocated for an islandwide lockdown to control the spread of the virus, but such a move would bring the economy to its knees. I request the Opposition to look at this crisis without taking a politically motivated approach and consider it as a crucial moment where we need to find our way through it without closing the economy..The current status of the pandemic demands us to follow the instructions and guidelines given by the health authorities, and at the same time the current status of the peoples’ day-to-day lives demand us to maintain the continuity of the economy without any disruption,” he said.

While the minister was making these remarks President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived in parliament to listen to the lawmakers who spoke on a range of issues including the government’s plan to vaccinate 63% of the total population of the country, potential legal action against companies that violate laws on the use of plastics and polythene and about legal impediments in facilitating MP Rishad Bathiudeen from attending parliamentary sessions.