Rathana Thera ready to help Govt; wants no Ministry

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera  

While claiming President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s victory was not his own, but an ideological victory against racism and Neo-liberalism, Ape Jana Bala Party MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said yesterday they also struggled to make that victory a success.  The prelate told Parliament that even though the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government promised to establish a people-centric economic policy, there has not been even a discussion in that respect.   “The Budget 2020 does not promote such an economic policy,” he said.  
Ven. Rathana Thera said the Rajapaksa government also promised a toxin-free farming and added that if the government was unable to do it, he was ready to take up the task as an independent force without any ministerial portfolio.  

“If we are provided with the infrastructure, I will take up the task of creating toxin-free farming. We are spending millions of rupees to import fertilizer such as Urea. We can manufacture it here,” he said.  

The prelate also said this government promised to ensure the concept of ‘one country, one law’ for all the people and added that steps should be taken to abolish extremist laws to make it a reality.  

“The government should respect the mandate of 6.7 million people. We campaigned during the presidential election for abolishing Kathi Courts and Madrasas. We should fulfill those promises,” he added.