“We will also consider the views of the TNA and JVP and other parties in Parliament for the formulation of this programme of work for its implementation for the next two years,” he said.

Addressing the swearing in ceremony of Deputy and State Prime Ministers at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said that two parties who had been in the practice of abusing each other have joined together for the sake of the country and are working together based on an agreement.

“The forming of a National Government has been completed with the appointment of State and Deputy Ministers and the National Government face a challenge of bringing solutions to the problems faced by the country", he added.

“It is the hope of the people that this National Government will bring solutions to the burning issues of the country,” he said. He added that the majority of people are of the view that Ministers do not discharge their duties as expected by the people and that some of them do not even care to attend Parliament sittings.

The Prime Minister added that the Deputy Ministers and the State Ministers should be in Parliament and answer the queries made by the opposition. The Prime Minister also said that the foreign tours of Ministers, Deputy Ministers and State Ministers will have to be curtailed.

“They should work as a team to achieve what the people expect from us,” he said.