“Gota ensures University for all A/L qualified students”

The SLFP joined the SLPP on policy and its future programme. The tie up is not unconditional. The policy statement signed by the two parties last week ensures to restrict the cabinet to a maximum 30 portfolios

Acting President of the SLFP, Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa said the new government formed under Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa would give opportunity to all G.C.E. A/L qualified students to get university education.

“Only about 22,000 students get the chance for selection under the Z score system to enter a University right now with nearly 75,000 students fail university entrance. We would give opportunity to all A/L passed students to obtain a degree on nursing, technology, maths, horticulture, cookery, child and adult care etc on their choice as there is a big demand in the local and global job market with higher salaries. Our government will not be satisfied only by sending our women as domestic helpers and men as labourers alone,” Prof. Piyadasa stressed.

Addressing the weekly news briefing at the party office yesterday, he said the economy, industry, agriculture, export, foreign direct investment had suffered a beating under the last four and half years. The education, health and environment issues had cropped up as never before. People are trying hard to make ends meet while purchasing power drops steadily and cost of living rises sharply. This is the record of the Ranil Wickremesinghe led government,” Prof. Piyadasa charged.

Prof. Piyadasa noted that international drug kingpins were behind the April 21st terrorist attack on churches and high end tourist hotels carried out by a gang of Muslim extremists and their prime target was President Maithripala Sirisena who has waged a war against drugs and alcohol.

General Secretary of the UPFA, Mahinda Amaraweera said the UNP’S poor show in the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha election has reflected with the 10,113 votes it drew while UPFA’S great performance has been highlighted with the 5,273 votes it polled.

The 7 slots and 24.37% votes the UNP secured at the same election was a big and unexpected setback for the UNP but three seats and 12.7% recorded by the UPFA was a huge victory for the UPFA which the party did not expect, he added.

The former Minister said the upfa or the slfp did not take a big effort to win the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha election as it’s results would not have a major impact on the Presidential poll.

“The SLFP joined the SLPP on policy and its future programme. The tie up is not unconditional. The policy statement signed by the two parties last week ensures to restrict the cabinet to a maximum 30 portfolios, a common national policy for major sectors like education, health, environment, industry, economy, tax and industry etc that would not change with the change of governments, a single law for the entire country, eradication of drug menace and put an end to corruption, misappropriation and waste without sparing any individual from strict legal action for misdeeds including ministers or any other member of the government if found guilty,” Mr. Amaraweera stressed.