Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe says that the time has come to introduce a new political culture to the country and do away with the existing “expired” political system and culture.

He stated that putting forward then SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena to contest as the Common Presidential Candidate and all parties joining together to support him was the first step in creating this new political culture.

Wickramasinghe pointed out that the United National Party (UNP) had supported the effort to make the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) the President of the country, for the first time in history.

The Prime Minister stated that he sees the SLFP’s decision to join the government and accept several ministerial portfolios as a “really good step.”

“This clearly shows that everyone has now understood that the country and the people are asking for a new political system,” he said, addressing an event to distribute motorcycles to local government politicians at Temple Trees today.

Wickramasinghe stated that although various accusations have been made against certain individuals who were appointed as minister, President Maithripala Sirisena has to choose persons to fill those Ministerial posts from within the Parliament itself and not from the outside.

He stated that the present political situation is actually a “rehearsal” for all parties to join hands and work together after the upcoming General Election. “What I want is to transform the entire Parliament into one government after that election,” Wickramasinghe said.

He added that just as SLFP ministers joined the government and took oaths, it is important to treat all members of local government bodies equally.