Minister’s warning not rejection of Maha Sanga’s proposals – official

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Ministry of Tourism and Public Security yesterday (02) said that Minister Prasanna Ranatunga’s warning to those protesting against the government that their actions would further weaken the national economy shouldn’t be misconstrued as rejection of the proposals made by the Maha Sangha to settle the crisis.

 The Ministry spokesperson said so when The Island asked whether Minister Ranatunga declaration that the solutions to the economic fallout couldn’t be found through protests meant the SLPP government was not interested in the Maha Sangha’s proposals.

Ven. Omalpe Sobitha on behalf of the Maha Sangha issued an ultimatum to the entire Cabinet-of-Ministers, including Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa, to quit in order to enable the setting up of an all-party interim administration for a period of one year, pending early general election.

Minister Ranatunga, in a special statement issued yesterday, emphasized that the change of government should be done in terms of the Constitution. The Minister alleged that the ongoing protest campaign demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and violent incidents would only cause further deterioration.

 Maha Sanga demanded that the President, in consultation with other political parties represented in Parliament, take tangible measures to set up the proposed interim administration by May 15.

The Minister explained how the ongoing protests in Colombo and other areas had caused a sharp drop in tourist arrivals, thereby further aggravated the economic crisis. The Minister stressed that the country needed to attract more tourists as part of the overall efforts to improve the economic situation. But, the current crisis has brought down the number of daily arrivals to about 1,000 from 4,000-5,000 in March.

Protesters launched a ‘Go Gota Home’ campaign on April 09 in front of the Presidential Secretariat following violent protests at the President’s private residence at Pengiriwatte on March 31 and countrywide protest on April 03.