Stop insulting or demeaning others, from within and outside Parliament, was the clear message President Mahinda Rajapaksa gave to the newly appointed 37 Ministers of the Cabinet and the 39 Deputy Ministers after they took oaths this afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat.

Addressing the Ministers and Deputies, President Rajapaksa said that all members should together work for the welfare of the masses who had given an overwhelming mandate to the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and that it should be a collective effort and a collective responsibility.

Appointing a small Cabinet and the distribution of Ministries has been a tough task, stated President Rajapaksa while adding, “I believe everyone will do their best while being together and take collective responsibility for all their actions. Now we have to deliver.”

The masses have expected a lot from the new government. Every Ministry is equally important. So the Ministers and Deputies should give of their best and fulfill the aspirations of the masses, emphasized the President.

This is the first time in our history that the masses had cast their votes overwhelmingly for a ruling government rather than the Opposition. So, all members should refrain from demeaning or criticizing others from within and without the Parliament. They should set a high standard of example and discipline to the new and younger members in the House, urged the President in his short speech to the newly appointed Ministers and Deputies.