Effective economic roadmap need of the hour: Marikkar

• Warns all-party Govt. will not lead to 40 Cabinet ministers supported by 40 more State Ministers
• Stresses country and people cannot afford any excesses amidst worsening crisis
• Opines country needs all-party solution to people’s problems and not all-party Govt.

By Darshana Abayasingha

SJB Parliamentarian S.M. Marikkar

Main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian S.M. Marikkar yesterday emphasised that an effective economic roadmap is the need of the hour to resolve the crisis faced by the country and the people.

He told journalists that the priority now is to design and deploy an effective economic roadmap and provide peace and stability to the nation, rather than engage in relentless protests.

Colombo District MP Marikkar was responding to a question from journalists on calls by some of its members for the public to once again engage in protests against the current regime.

Marikkar opined it is counterproductive to engage in constant movements to remove presidents “on a monthly basis”.

 The focus now should be on revitalising the economy and this process requires reasonable time. The ‘Aragalaya’ had achieved its primary objective, he noted, and the recent protests had engaged the public at large effectively. It only started falling into disrepute when certain groups moved to politicise the movement, he said.

“More than an all-party Government, what this country requires is an all-party solution to the problems the country faces,” he said. Marikkar stressed the need to provide urgent and effective relief to the public, whereby people could once again make ends meet within their incomes. 

He stressed upon the need to ensure availability of medicines, fertiliser and create an environment for children to go to school five days a week. “All this could only be done in a stable and peaceful environment; this is essential for the revival of the economy through an effective roadmap that will deliver the necessary reforms,” the MP stated.

Marikkar once again said the SJB will offer its support to the Government for any such effective program, but stressed this does not require any of its members to take up ministerial posts. 

“The policies of the UNP and the SJB are fairly similar, because the SJB was part of the UNP. So, we can definitely support any progressive measures without having to take up posts,” he said. There has to be an Opposition to voice against any malpractices in parliament and outside it, he added.

The MP also expressed hope that an all-party Government will not lead to 40 Cabinet ministers supported by 40 more State Ministers, as the country and its people cannot afford any excesses at this juncture.