Colombo, May 8 (newsin.asia) – Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena, on Tuesday invited all political parties to unite to develop the island country after months of political instability.
Delivering the government’s policy speech after opening the 8th session of Parliament, Sirisena also urged the power struggle within his unity government to end and said so far the coalition had made progress in several key areas since being elected to office in 2015.
“The ruling coalition has made progress in several key areas such restoring rule of law, making the judiciary independent, reconciliation and wining back the good will of the international community. But much more still needs to be done,” Sirisena said.
He said the government had made progress despite a massive debt burden, volatile international conditions and a drought amid climate change which hurt the farming community in particular.
He further said the government would create better conditions for domestic and international investors and would strengthen its relationship with the international community further.
Sirisena, last month, suspended Parliament until May 8, after six ministers resigned from the unity government which consists of Sirisena’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP).
The move came amid renewed tension in the unity government, following its defeat in a local government election in February.
The country’s parliament was last suspended in May 2009.
