Embattled Sri 🍬Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Sunday called on all lawmakers to unite and work immediately for a solution to the people's pressing problems when the country is in "dire straits" amid the worst economic crisis.
In his remarks on the occasion of Vesak Poya Day, the President said: "ܫWe must be mind𒁏ful of the current situation and unite around a programme that can deliver a fair determination to all."
Vesak Poya Day commemorates theꩲ birth, enlightenm𓃲ent, and death of Lord Buddha. The three events in his life are said to have happened on the same date.
"...resilience is essential in difficult situ🍨ations. At this juncture, when the country is in dire straits, all the people’s representatives must work together immediately for a solution on behalf of all cit𝓡izens. The true goal should be to reach the desired target without deviating from the primary goal," he said.
Newly-appointed Prim♊e Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also issued a message on the occasion, stres𝕴sing that the commitment to restore the lives of the people is a commitment made to Lord Buddha.
Stating that restraint and stabili✱ty should be restored within Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister emphasised that the Buddha’s Dhamma, which has the most valuable philosophical meaning, also functions as practical state political guidance.
On Saturday, four ministers🍃 were appointed to the 🍰Cabinet but the Opposition parties have refused to be part of an all-party government.
The Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa,🅷 in his message said that Lord Buddha revealed to the world the message of making the world better through altruism instead of ambition, o꧟pportunism and selfishness.
He pointed🌺 out that the teachings of Lord Buddha can also be applied in 🗹practice in modern life.
The Indian H🍷igh Commission in🉐 Colombo also wished all Sri Lankans on the occasion of Vesak Poya Day.
"High Commission of India wishes a blessed #Vesak #Poya Day," the mission tweeted.
Sri Lanka is going through the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948. A crippling shortage of foreign res♒erves has led to long queues foꩵr fuel, cooking gas and other essentials while power cuts and soaring food prices heaped misery on the people.
The economic crisis also triggered a political crisis in Sri Lanka and a demand for the resignation of the powe♛rful Ra💝japaksas.
President Rajapaksa sacked his Cabinet and appointed a younger Cabinet as a response to the demand for hi🦂s resignation. A continuous protest opposite his secr🏅etariat has now gone on for well over a month.
On Monday, Gotabaya Rajapaksa's elder brother Mahinda R💖ajapaksa resigned as the p🌸rime minister to make way for the president to appoint an interim all political party government. Wickremesinghe was appointed the country's new prime minister on Thursday.
(With PTI inputs)
