Finnish PM: 'Refugees can stay at my home'

SATURDAY 05 SEPTEMBER 2015

Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila offers his second home to refugees, as Europe continues to struggle with an influx of migrants.

Speaking to state television on Saturday, Mr Sipila said that his country home, situated north of the Finnish capital Helsinki, was "not being used much at the moment".

"I hope this becomes some kind of people's movement that will inspire many others to shoulder part of the burden in this refugee housing crisis.

"We should all take a look in the mirror and ask how we can help," Sipila told national broadcaster YLE.

Channel 4 News asked British Prime Minister David Cameron whether he would be willing to host refugees in his country home.

A spokesperson at Number 10 declined to comment and referred Channel 4 News to Mr Cameron's statement on Friday, where he said that Britain would take "thousands more" refugees from Syria.

Channel 4 News asked the Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, whether he would open up his official residence of Chevening, which has 115 rooms. A foreign office spokesperson also referred Channel 4 News to the prime minister's statement.

Labour leadership candidates Andy Burnham and Jeremy Corbyn told Channel 4 News that they would take in Syrian refugees to their homes.

Channel 4 News understands that Liz Kendall rents a flat and has no room to house refugees. The Leicester West MP said: "This statement from the Finnish PM reflects the horror and frustration there has been in response to the refugee crisis.

"In Britain we've got a Prime Minister who has shown himself to be both heartless and powerless to act."

Finland's government doubled its estimate for the number of asylum seekers in the country this year up to 30,000.

More than 350,000 refugees and migrants have reached the borders of the Europe Union this year.

In recent weeks, many have arrived in Hungary after travelling from Greece through Balkan countries. Thousands continue to arrive in Southern Europe after crossing the Mediterranean Sea, usually in rickety boats. Over 2,000 have died at sea so far this year, including 30-40 on Friday who were reported drowned off Libya's coast.

India targets tax evaders who hide ‘black money’ at home and abroad

July, 2015 view from the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore where wealth managers are under scrutiny as Asian countries including Indonesia and India look to chase undeclared money in the low-tax city-state. (Edgar Su/Reuters)

By Rama Lakshmi -September 13
NEW DELHI — Among the pledges that propelled Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to power a year ago was one to bring home millions of dollars of illicit money the super rich had stashed abroad.

Trying to make good on his promise, his government has introduced a string of tough new measures in recent months designed to crack down on so-called black money, and fueling panic among India’s elite and growing numbers of millionaires.

India Targets Tax Evaders Who Hide ‘Black Money’ at Home and Abroad by Thavam Ratna

Your Diet Is Causing Inflammation And Arthritis Flare-ups, Here Are 7 Ways To Prevent Them

Posted by Ivan Andreevski on April 29, 2015

Arthritis is a very common condition in the world, with over 52 million cases only in the USA. The term “arthritis” includes osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout and other joints inflammations.

 

 

Arthritis mainly roots in the imbalance of the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Cytokines are proteins and glycoproteins responsible for immunity and inflammation in the organism.

Arthritis characterizes with constant pain in a particular part of the body, most commonly in the hands, the elbows, the knees and the hips.

Arthritis can be caused by many factors, which makes it hard for treating. Still, there is some correlation between the gut heath and arthritis. As Hippocrates said, “all disease begins in the gut”.

Arthritis, gut bacteria, and inflammation

There is a strong connection between altered gut bacteria and the development of rheumatoid arthritis. The popular opinion that arthritis is a result of the aging process is not true, because it is a degenerative process caused by external factors.

There are some things that you can do to ease the pain, or even treat it and everyone should remember that it is not an inevitable part of the aging process.

All costs for treating arthritis, the lowered efficiency due to it and the lost wages are considered to be about $128 billion per year.

All bacteria in human body can either help it protect itself from inflammation, or cause some kind of said inflammation.

There is this bacterium in human gut, Prevotella genus, that is found altered in the gut when someone suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. This bacterium is very important because is one of the bacteria that protect the body against conditions that relate to the immune system, the brain function, the mood disorder and the health of the hormones. When this bacterium is altered, the immune system is disturbed and the body is susceptible to bacteria, viruses and inflammations. In this way, the gut plays one of the main roles for your health in general.

Some of the inflammations caused by this vulnerability of the immune system can be muscle and joint swelling. Usually, arthritis can be diagnosed years after the inflammation appears. And if you don’t treat this inflammation, your bones and cartilage will slowly start to erode.

What can be done?

First, we should know what destroys the good, proactive and protective bacteria and avoid it. Those are the following:

• Antibiotics
• Cesarean sections
• Diets with insufficiency of essential vitamins and minerals
• Diets with high percentage of refined sugars, wheat and processed food
• Lifestyle habits (alcohol, no exercise, GMO food, injuries)

If we take care of our gut health, we will improve our immune system and help our body defend itself from inflammations and pain. As arthritis prevention, strengthen your gut good bacteria and repair the damage caused by the free radicals or other threats.

Contrary to popular opinion, arthritis is a serious disease and you should know that it is not just a minor aches and pains related to old age. Also, you should know that exercise does good for you if you have this disease and should be practiced and there are things that you can do when it comes to arthritis.

Preventative measures against arthritis:

1. Probiotic supplements

By taking organic probiotic supplements, you help your good gut bacteria flourish and you do this too by avoiding refined sugars.

A study was conducted on people divided in two groups: one who took probiotics and other placebo. The results, which are very promising, showed that only taking of probiotics can increase the anti-inflammatory cytokines. We recommend you start taking these probiotic supplements.

2. Eliminate inflammatory foods

Refined sugars, wheat, processed food, fried food are some of the ingredients that you should eliminate from your diet if you want to improve your good gut bacteria. These foods are not only making it harder for your body to defend itself against different bacteria and viruses, but they also (refined sugars especially) nourish the harmful bacteria and the fungi.

158 Handed Over to the Army: Missing, Missing, Missing for 25 Years ….

By Dr T Jayasingam, (Officer in charge of the Vantharumoolai refugee camp, 1990).-05/09/2015

Many may not know that when September 5, 2015 dawns it will be 25 years of waiting for 158 families who ‘lost’ a member or two on that day in 1990 from the VANTHARUMOOLAI REFUGFEE CAMP at the Eastern University. They did not go missing as usual where no one knew where they went. In this case these 158 were ‘handed over’/ ‘taken over’ by the Sri Lankan military in front of a population of nearly 40,000 people. They were forced into buses and driven away in the direction of Valaichenai. This was the last time anyone saw any of them, to date.

Unfortunately, I was the lead officer of the camp at that time and stay witness to this, to date. I have made my comments to various national and international persons regarding these facts. I presented myself to the Presidential Commission on Missing Persons in 2004. I gave them the names of all the army officers who came for the operation that day and also gave the name of the Army Major General who came three days after on 8thSeptember to the camp. I am not aware whether there had been any inquiries to this day.

Two colleagues who were managing the camp with me, Prof. Mano Sabaratnam and D. Sivalingam, are no more. I went again to the Presidential Commission in 2014, at the request of relatives of the people who went missing. I gave them a letter stating that I had given all what I had, the documents, and all what I knew, which is already in the report of the previous Commission, published in 2007. I told the commissioners that I want to know what happened to all those? There was no answer. I told them the next time when another commission comes looking for these facts, I won’t be there and you won’t be there and we will be talking of stories of 1990. Perhaps all relevant parties may have died when the next commission comes around.

I have people asking me whether they are alive or not, to which I have no answer. I have people telling me that they are in place X, place XX etc. and I have no confirmation. I am traumatized as any person who went through the ordeals of the war. I wake up at night at times when the missing persons’ memory and the camp comes back to haunt me in dreams….

I am not sure whether this will end, but I wish this will never be repeated.

I am not sure what happened to them? But surely, there must be many soldiers who would know what happened to them. I am sure the Major General who visited our camp on 8th September 1990, and who went on to become the Army Commander would be aware of the case and its follow ups. Will anyone have the face to say to the world that this is what happened? It is not about a war crime, it is about humanity. It is about the truth. Does anyone have the courage to face the truth and say ‘this is the ‘truth’. Many do not understand what the families of missing people want? They want an answer. Not compensation, not punishment, but an answer. Could those who took them away from a refugee camp give that?

Does anyone realize that there are children who do not know their fathers and are waiting for them all these years? I attended a wedding recently where the fathers of both the groom and the bride were those who went missing on September 05, 1990. As parents can we imagine what would have gone through in their minds on one of the happiest days of their lives?

My hope is that President Maithripala Sirisena, who pledged that there would be justice and good governance would end this saga of missing people, especially when the full list of the missing persons is known. My hope is also that after 25 years some who have knowledge of this would summon enough courage to speak up and get it out of their chest for their own peace of mind. I am sure this unfortunate event would haunt them too.

It is not only the people who went missing, it is a combination of humanity, good governance, rule of law and truth that went missing. It is time to recover these missing elements or we will risk losing the trust of people forever. Reconciliation cannot take place when truth is suppressed.

It is my wish that before my lifespan is over I would have the satisfaction of having received an answer on behalf of the 158 families who were with me that fateful day in the refugee camp in Vantharumoolai.

It was the largest refugee camp in Sri Lanka at that time and housed around 10,000 families with around 40,000 people within the four walls of the premises. There were 28 births in the camp and 15 deaths and all buried mostly within. There were shops and markets in the camp, post and water supply. ICRC and MSF were caretakers. The Grama Sevakas worked for the management of the refugee camp administration. It was a mini government within, people feeling secure though worried and desperate seeing smoke at distances, the burning of ……, hearing bullets that travel the sky day and night, yet willing to stay under trees and in open hoping for the day to return home. Following this event on 5th September 1990 and another incident shortly thereafter where 18 more were taken away, the population dissipated slowly from the camp which was closed on 30th September 1990. I was the last person to leave the premises on that day, haunted with heavy heart and memories of the missing 158+ which remains to date.

– The Island

Eastern University Massacre: Missing, Missing, Missing For 25 Years

By Thangamuthu Jayasingam – 

Dr. Thangamuthu Jayasingam

Officer in charge of the Vantharumoolai refugee camp, 1990

Many may not know that, when 5th September 2015 dawns, it will be 25 years of waiting for 158 families, who ‘lost’ a member or two on that day of 5th September 1990 from the VANTHARUMOOLAI REFUGEE CAMP at EASTERN UNIVERSITY. They did not go missing as usual, where no one knew where they went. In this case these 158 were ‘handed over’/ ‘taken over’ by the Sri Lankan Military in front of a population of nearly 40,000 people. They were forced into buses and were driven away in the direction of Valaichenai. This was the last time anyone saw any of them, to date.

Unfortunately, I was the lead officer of the camp at that time and stay witness to this, to date. I have made my comments to various national and international persons regarding these facts. I presented myself to the Presidential Commission on Missing Persons in 2004. I gave them the names of all the army officers who came for the operation that day and also gave the name of the Army Major General who came three days after on 8thSeptember to the camp. I am not aware whether there had been any inquiries to this day. Two colleagues who were managing the camp with me, Prof. Mano Sabaratnam and D.Sivalingam, are no more. I went again to the Presidential Commission in 2014, at the request of relatives of the people who went missing. I gave them a letter stating that I had given all what I had, the documents, and all what I knew, which is already in the report of the previous Commission, published in 2007. I told the commissioners that I want to know what happened to all those? There was no answer. I told them the next time when another commission comes looking for these facts, I won’t be there and you won’t be there and we will be talking of stories of 1990. Perhaps all relevant parties may have died when the next commission comes around.

I have people asking me whether they are alive or not, to which I have no answer. I have people telling me that they are in place X, place XX etc. and I have no confirmation. I am traumatized as any person who went through the ordeals of the war. I wake up at night at times when the missing persons’ memory and the camp comes back to haunt me in dreams….Read More

TNA to talk to govt. on national question

2015-09-05
The main opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said yesterday it hoped to hold talks with the government on resolving the national question no sooner Prime Minster Ranil Wickremesinghe returns from his upcoming visit to India, party officials said yesterday.   

TNA Spokesman M.A. Sumanthiran told Daily Mirror that one of the stated objectives of the national unity government was the resolution of the national question. 

  “We will talk to the government straightaway with a view to resolving the long outstanding matter,” he said and added that the Tamil people were happy with the appointment of TNA leader R. Sampanthan as the Opposition Leader of Parliament.  

 According to reports several religious ceremonies have been organised at Hindu kovils in the North and East to invoke blessings on Mr. Sampanthan while a reception has been organised in Trincomalee to welcome the new opposition leader.  

 The TNA has also decided that in the absence of Mr. Sampanthan, Jaffna district MP Mavai Senathirajah, will act as the opposition leader.  

 The TNA Parliamentary Group also decided to hand over the post of Chief Opposition Whip to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Accordingly, Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan proposed that JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake be appointed as Opposition Whip. 

  This is the second occasion at which a Tamil politician has become the Opposition Leader. Earlier, Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Leader A. Amirthalingam served in the post from 1977 to 1983. Mr. Sampanthan was also an MP of the main opposition at that time. (Kelum Bandara)

JVP throws its weight behind TNA chief 

September 5, 2015, 8:35 am

JVP leader Anua Kumara Dissanayake addressing the media at the party headquarters at Pelawatte yesterday. JVP National List MP Sunil Handunnetti is also present. (Pic courtesy JVP)

By Dasun Edirisinghe

The JVP yesterday welcomed the appointment of TNA leader R. Sampanthan as the Leader of the Opposition claiming that his party had the highest number of MPs in the opposition.

Addressing the media at the party headquarters, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that according to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, the UPFA General Secretary Prof. Wiswa Warnapala had informed him in a letter that the UPFA would not name anyone for the Opposition Leader’s post. The UPFA secured highest number of seats in the house after the UNP at the August 17 General Election.

According to the Constitution, the Opposition leader would be appointed from the party which obtained the highest number of seats after the winning party, Dissanayake said adding that it was fully legal.

Dissanayake said that his party was opposed TNA policies, but it was not a barrier to work with them in the opposition even after the JVP got the post of Chief Opposition Whip.

The JVP leader claimed that the UPFA MPs who criticised the appointment of Sampanthan as the Opposition Leader should have been in the opposition without supporting the UNP to obtain ministerial portfolios for their personal gains.

Dissanayake said that the UPFA MPs could not declare that they would function as independent MPs and claim the opposition leader’s post.

"If we do not allow the TNA to obtain the Opposition Leader’s post, they can easily campaign worldwide that Sri Lanka Parliament does not respect its democratic right or honour the Constitution," the JVP said, adding that if so the TNA could easily justify their claim for the federal or any other proposal to claim a separate Parliament within the country.

Dissanayake alleged that the UPFA had joined the government seeking personal benefits and betrayed their mandate which was against forming a national government. The present government was not very different from the previous corrupt Mahinda Rajapaksa government; it was generously distributing ministerial portfolios, he said.

Schooling The Rulers: Who’s Responsibility Is It?

By Ruvan Weerasinghe –September 5, 2015

Ruvan Weerasinghe

You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. – Jesus Christ

There’s a grave danger in imagining that the new cabinet and their deputies understand even the notion of good governance. In fact many of them have openly mocked the very idea of Yahapalanaya not so very long ago. Even for some of the others, who have now got on the Yahapalana bandwagon, the idea of actually being accountable to those below them (leave alone being their servant or slave) would be quite alien.

It has been the common experience of many people I’ve spoken to after January 8th, that changing the top in the country or any organization doesn’t automatically change the prevailing culture of governance. That culture has been nurtured over many decades but perfected during the last one to be one where dishonest gain in the guise of serving the public was the primary aim. It is primarily a culture based on patronage. If one is good with their boss, the boss would look after them; else one would be penalized. It has seeped into all corners of the government and even spilled over to the non-government and private sectors of the country. Changing the leader only makes those below seek to please the new boss in the same old ways – to put it plainly, by sucking up to them. This is what led to the emperors new clothes syndrome which finally led to the downfall of the emperor.

In this respect, it is refreshing to see the new President epitomize the very notion of servant-leadership. Welcoming the critiques of his style of leadership (being called spineless and indecisive) he has set an excellent example in humility. Unfortunately, owing to the extreme conditions he faced within his own party, he has had to tarnish this exemplary behaviour with some extreme decisions within the party. The most glaring example of this was in the names he included through the SLFP national list: who could hardly be called his supporters – they were just those who ridiculed him a little less than the others!Read More

Sri Lanka Eases Grip on Rupee as Emerging Currencies Show Strain

• Rupee weakens the most since March 2012 to record low
• Move to let market play "greater role" in determining FX rate

 By Anusha Ondaatjie-September 4, 2015

Sri Lanka loosened the grip on its currency, becoming the latest country to signal it was giving way to the stress that’s engulfing developing economies as the U.S. moves closer to raising interest rates.

The Colombo-based central bank will no longer give a daily intervention rate from Friday “to let the market play a greater role in determining the exchange rate,” Deputy Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said in a telephone interview. The rupee fell the most in more than three years. 

Policy makers from Vietnam to Kazakhstan followed China in devaluing currencies last month in bids to shore up their economies as tumbling commodity prices curb revenue and prospects for higher U.S. rates damp demand for riskier assets. Sri Lanka’s decision to ease controls on the exchange rate follows a fourth straight month of declines in exports.

 

The move showed Sri Lanka “was not blind to outside forces," Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said on Friday.

Since China’s surprise devaluation of the yuan on Aug. 11, currencies from South Africa’s rand to Mexico’s peso tumbled to all-time lows and emerging-market stocks slumped into bear markets. The currency of India, Sri Lanka’s biggest trading partner, has lost 3.9 percent in the period.

Still Managed

The island nation’s rupee weakened 2.1 percent at 137.75 against the dollar and is down 2.9 percent in the past month. The monetary authority will still intervene when necessary, Weerasinghe said. The central bank said yesterday it had received funds from a $1.1 billion swap with the Reserve Bank of India that would help bolster reserves.

“This is still a managed float,” said Bimanee Meepagala, Colombo-based fund manager at NDB Wealth Management Ltd. “It could lead to a marginal depreciation in the rupee and a marginal rise in rates.”

 

Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran said Aug. 17 that the country needs to draw a fine line between maintaining competitiveness of the rupee to boost exports while protecting local investments of citizens living abroad.

Exports in June fell 4.2 percent from the previous year, the fourth straight monthly decline. Consumer prices dropped 0.2 percent in August from a year earlier, matching the previous month’s move, which was the steepest in data going back to 1996.

Stocks and currencies from developing countries fell on Friday after U.S. jobs report showed weaker-than-forecast growth in hiring balanced by the lowest unemployment rate since April 2008 and an increase in average hourly earnings. 

Investors raised bets on a September liftoff to 36 percent from 26 percent before the U.S. data, while that’s still less than the 48 percent odds predicted before China devalued the yuan last month.

Sri Lanka Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran said Aug. 17 that the island nation needs to draw a fine line between maintaining competitiveness of the rupee to boost exports while protecting local investments of citizens living abroad.

Exports in June fell 4.2 percent from the previous year, the fourth straight monthly decline. Consumer prices dropped 0.2 percent in August from a year earlier, matching the previous month’s move, which was the steepest in data going back to 1996.

Sri Lanka’s central bank said yesterday it had received funds from a $1.1 billion swap with the Reserve Bank of India that would help bolster reserves.

SRI LANKA: AHRC calls for adequate financial allocation in the Budget 2016, to end corruption, fraud and waste

September 4, 2015

In response to the calls for proposals from the public for the 2016 Budget, by the Ministry of Finance, Sri Lanka, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) submitted proposals calling for adequate financial allocation towards the modernisation of the policing institutions, the judicial institutions, the creation of an effective agency to control bribery and corruption, and for the effective implementation of the new witness protection law. The AHRC in its proposal stressed the need to give serious attention by policy makers towards making adequate financial allocations towards these institutions, in the Budget 2016, if the Government is to ensure good governance, end corruption, fraud and waste.

SRI LANKA AHRC Calls for Adequate Financial Allocation in the Budget 2016, To End Corruption, Fraud and Was... by Thavam Ratna

Whither The Republic? 

By Chrishmal Warnasuriya –September 4, 2015

Chrishmal Warnasuriya

Challenges before the 8th Parliament vis-à-vis the People’s Legislative Power

Exercising The People’s Sovereign-Legislative Power

Over the last two weeks or so, in the immediate aftermath of my singular statement on the National List issue, I opted for a self-imposed “media silence”, politely refraining from commenting on many matters to our colleagues in the Press; I express my sincere gratitude to all of you for that kind courtesy and understanding extended, for allowing me that little window of space. I was silent, primarily, as I did not wish to be misunderstood (or misquoted), that my stand which was taken on principle was motivated by a personal or vested interest; I can assure you that it was not! However now that the august assembly representing our Sovereign Legislative power have ceremoniously assumed their public duties, permit me to return to the independence of my pre-election status as a student of the ever-dynamic science of politics and the law and safely comment on several important issues from a “public perspective”; in sincere faith they would be considered objectively, forgetting the momentary (rather unfortunate) marketing of my name before the electorate at this last referendum of the 17th.

As always my point of focus is the very powerful wording of Article 3 of our 2nd Republican (1978) Constitution; that sovereignty (which includes the power of franchise) of this golden soil reposes in us its citizens; absolutely, inalienably and forever. From there it flows to be “separated” in its exercise at Article 4, in terms of 4(b) permitting a temporary conveyance of our Legislative (law making) power, in “Public Trust” (that our absolute interest in that power as its sole repositories will always be ensured); to a parliament represented by 225 citizens elected from amongst us in terms of (the replaced – 14th Amendment of 1988) Article 99.

Read More

CID chief conceals fmr. SLPA Chairman's corruption report!

Sep 05, 2015

The CID Director is attempting to conceal a scandal concerning former chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority - Priyath Bandu Wickrama, the 'Sath Handa' newspaper reports.

The newspaper claims that the internal probe report over the Rs. 100 million fraud allegedly committed by Dr. Bandu Wickrama while selling the 'Diyakaawa' tugboat after taking it apart, is being swept under the rug by the CID Director.

The 'Sath Handa' further reports :

The probe has also revealed that the businessman connected to the deal has also verified that Dr. Bandu Wickrama had received money in a shady manner.

Nearly 03 months have elapsed since the report was handed over to the CID Director.

Speaking a higher police officer said, "This internal report includes evidence sufficient to arrest Dr. Bandu Wickrama. However, the CID Director attempting to sweep the report under the rug."
- SLM -

Common Committee to decide on public sector appointees - President

Saturday, September 5, 2015 - 01:00

A Common Committee will be setup to ensure that suitable persons are appointed to the highest posts at public institutions, said President Maithripala Sirisena.

He made the announcement during his speech at the swearing - in ceremony of the new Cabinet of Ministers at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo yesterday.

The President said appointments to top posts in government institutions such as state corporations, statutory boards and other public institutions should be made on the recommendations of this Common Committee. He said that the Common Committee will comprise of himself and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to assess the suitability of the individuals appointed to the highest posts, including the Chairmen, the director board etc of such public institutions.

The President further said that the Common Committee will be set up within next week. He said that even if the Ministers, their deputies and State Ministers needed to appoint some one to these high positions of such institutions, the names of applicants had to be directed to this Committee.

He added that the qualification of the applicants would be assessed and examined with the applications of other candidates by the Common Committee before the most suitable individual is appointed.

President Sirisena further said the Sri Lanka Freedom Party has been given 15 ministerial portfolios while the United National Party 33.

He said past experience has made it a real challenge in deciding the ministerial portfolios even for a party which obtained the majority.

The President stated that under the agreement reached between the UNP and the SLFP, various opportunities will be created for the MPs of those respective parties to be able to serve the public and not only through ministerial portfolios.

He stated that the two parties have discussed and decided to select MPs for the Chairmanships of District Development Councils, Regional Coordinating Committees, new working committees to be established in Parliament and the affiliated institutions. "We have reached an agreement for two years in order to work as one group, to as one government when we work within the Cabinet."

"Although we have joined together as political parties, we all realize that we are one group and one government within the agreement we have created," the President added.

The President said the UNP and SLFP have agreed to work as a National Government for two years and the government has to be productive. He added although two political parties have joined hands, all have to work as one government.

The President further stated that the politicians as well as the public servants should always know they cannot engage fraud, corruption and irregularities.