A group of concerned professionals has urged parties in the opposition to declare their respective plans for national socioeconomic recovery.
In an open plea, they note that mainstream parties now campaign for upcoming polls, but that their criticisms and references on stage are confined to corruption and the economic crisis only.
Pointing out the various challenges faced by the country, the group asks the parties to explain their stance on several key matters.
They include their interpretation of national development, the viewpoint with regard to the IMF programme, independent commissions and the state mechanism and return of the police department to serve as a civil department.
Denial of fundamental rights for the nearly two million workforce in the private sector, reforms in education, health, public transport and rural agricultural economy, and the stand on the final report by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission are the other points.
Parties have been requested to respond within two weeks from 24 June.
Signatories to the call include journalist Kusal Perera, Hurigama Jayasena, Prof. (emeritus) Ajith Abeysekara, retired civil servant Chandrasena Maliyadde, social activist Asanka Senadhira, women’s activist Gayani Gomes, film director Parakrama Niriella, trade unionist Anton Marcus, journalist Manjula Basnayake, actress Tilani Mahamalage, union activist Krishanthi Mangalika, human rights activist K.S. Ratnavel, social activist Visaka Tilakaratne and Prof. (emeritus) Kamal Bandara.
