Govt. acts according to the pulse of the poor – President

President Maithripala Sirisena says that the present government is an administration which understands the pulse of the underprivileged people.

The President further said that all the economic plans prepared in a way which the underprivileged people could reap more benefits and said that the government is committed to provide all the facilities needed to uplift the living standard of those people.

The President made these remarks addressing the Parliament today (04), during the Third Reading of the Budget at the Committee Stage on the Ministry of Housing and Construction and for the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine.

The President arrived at the Parliament during the Debate on the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, the President’s Media Division said.

The President also appreciated the progress made by the respective Ministries and added that the government has made a special contribution to ensure the rights of the people for the free health service of the country.

Today, the Minister of Health has been given the opportunity to work freely on free health service of the country, he said and recalled the challenges he faced as the then Minister of Health in adopting the Medicinal Drug Act as well as in the process of imposing laws against for Tobacco and Cigarettes.

The President also said that not only for the Minister of Health, but also for all the ministers have been given the freedom to work in their respective fields as the President.

President Sirisena said that instead of proving maximum amount of Rs.1.5 million to a cancer patient, today, all the expenses of those patients are borne by the Government .

He also expressed views regarding the National Nephrology Specialized Hospital which is set to commence the constriction works on  06th December 2017 as well as regarding the special programmes implemented to free the society from the drug menace.

The Government has also launched several programmes for the advancement of indigenous medicine, the President said.

The President also appreciated the success of the National Housing Construction Programme under the Ministry of Housing and Construction.