President Chandrika Kumaratunga has revived her call for a national government and re-assured that Parliament will be re-opened and the 2004 budget presented thereafter.
In a televised address to the nation, she said the country was at the "cross roads in its history" and that it had been the demand of the people for a long time that the political parties in Parliament should put their differences behind, form a ldblquote National Government of Reconstruction and Reconciliation dblquote .rn
rnThe President justified the actions taken by her in the last two days and said that none of these was lquote illegal or unconstitutional.rn
rnEconomic Policy On Trackrn
rnrnKumaratunga said she would let the Finance Minister K N Choksy present the annual budget when Parliament is reconvened after November 19. rn
rnShe would also support his proposal to raise government servants salaries, since it was in fact, lquote her suggestion originally.rn
rnTo please jittery investors and local business comm