The Policy Statement (Throne Speech) of President
Mahinda Rajapaksa
The Policy Statement (Throne Speech) of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa, made at the Opening of the New Session of
Parliament on 25 November, 2005.
Honourable Members of Parliament,
As the fifth Executive President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,
I am ready to present before the honourable members my Government’s vision for
the future. At this moment an important event from the past comes to my mind.
The world’s first woman Prime Minister too came from a small Parliament such as
ours. In 1970 I had the privilege of delivering the vote of thanks after that great
national leader, Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike, made her Throne Speech or
policy statement. I still remember the sentiments I felt at the time as the youngest
MP in the House. I realized then that every word a Head of State utters reflects
public policy. Today I have been given the opportunity of making the most
important statement on public policy. Hence I consider it my duty to honor all the
past leaders from whom we have inherited progressive politics. Likewise I consider
it my duty to pay tribute to the millions of people of this country who elected me
President, defeating all vicious attempts to project distorted images through the
media and rouse religious divisions for which purposes unlimited amounts of
money were spent.
I had no secret pact or agreement with the people of this country. There were no
conditions between us. The only conditions were to build a new Sri Lanka and to
be honest. On the other hand I do not consider the votes that my good friend,
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, received as votes cast against me.
Everyone accepts that the recently concluded Presidential Election was a very
free and peaceful election. It should be considered an important milestone in our
journey to create a healthy political culture.
The Presidential Election now is over. As I said in my swearing-in speech, I am not
working for any one party, one group or religion. I therefore wish to state that I am
the leader, servant and friend of all of you, since it my policy to build a new
democratic state without dragging the aforesaid differences and complexities into
the administration. First of all I must make it clear that I do not consider my rival in
the Presidential Election, the Honourable Opposition Leader Ranil
Wickremesinghe, and his party as enemies of my new Government. I strongly
believe that we should forget whatever ill feelings of pain of mind between our two
parties during the Presidential Election, we should forget for the sake of the
people of this country. I expect the Opposition’s cooperation for our Government
in implementing the plans outlined in my policy statement. Likewise I wish to state
that our Government will accept the Opposition’s fair and constructive criticism.
Our overall objective in the Presidential Election was to ensure the victory of our
policy. Today the majority of people in this country have endorsed that policy. It
has emerged victorious by the power of universal franchise, which is a part of
people’s sovereignty. It is to protect the country without dividing or breaking up
this country. It is to free this land from poverty, underdevelopment and
backwardness and build this country. Our policy is to build an entirely new Sri
Lanka. I now preparing to make before the House the official statement making
this policy – which until now was only an election manifesto – this country’s public
policy.
01. Peace with dignity in an undivided country
My Government will give the highest priority to launch a new peace process to
usher in a lasting peace through a political solution to the country’s national
question. Our method is discussion instead of war. We are aware that such
discussions are not simple and easy. Yet it is the only way to peace. I wish to state
here that my Government is ready to have direct talks with the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam. The political solution to a lasting peace should be based on a
consensus reached through discussions among all parties linked to the problem
and it should receive the approval of majority of the people of this country. Our
policy for reaching such a consensus is as follows:
In order to realize a lasting peace by solving the national crisis, we propose to
build a new social democratic state that upholds political pluralism [and] the
aspirations and rights of all sections of our society. Based on that principle we will
pursue the following policy to reach a national consensus for peace with dignity.
i. Starting an open and transparent peace process.
The current Ceasefire Agreement will be revised to ensure the protection of
human rights, prevent recruitment of children for war, safeguard national security,
prevent terrorist acts, pave the way to rebuild lives that were shattered by war and
the tsunami in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and introduce an open and
transparent ceasefire monitoring machinery.
The failure of the United Front Government’s peace efforts was the result of the
peace talks being confined only to the Government and the LTTE. Instead of such
an unsuccessful bipartisan approach there will be a new peace process in which
all parties involved in the crisis can participate.
1. An open and sincere invitation will be given to the country’s main Opposition to
participate in such a process.
2. Special attention will be paid ensure Muslim people’s representation in peace
talks.
3. The peace process will be continued openly and transparently to reach a broad
consensus within a definite time frame.
4. The facilitation and mediation extended by the United Nations and other such
organizations that support peace in Sri Lanka, all friendly countries, the
international community, India and other regional states will be properly organized
and utilized to strengthen the peace process.
ii. Creation of a government infrastructure that will safeguard Sri Lanka’s
sovereignty, territorial integrity, unitary nature of the state and the people’s
national identity with the participation of all sections of our society as positive
shareholders in a pluralistic system for the maximum devolution of power within an
undivided sovereign democratic republic.
Instead of the concepts of traditional homelands and self-determination that allow
an ethnic group to break away from the Republic of Sri Lanka, steps will be taken
to ensure for all communities, including Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher and
Malay, the freedom to exercise all the rights enshrined in the Constitution -
including the right to live in any part of Sri Lanka on the grounds that the entire
territory is the homeland of all communities.
All citizens will be equal before the law and no citizens will be discriminated on
account of ethnicity, caste, religion, sex, political beliefs or place of birth.
Steps will be taken to ensure freedom of conscience, religious freedom including
the right of all citizens to embrace any religion or faith.
Appointment of a Commission to re-demarcate Secretarial Divisions, District and
Provincial boundaries to suit new socioeconomic, environmental and political
requirements for the establishment of grassroots level democratic people’s
representative organizations that will help all citizens to share the benefits of the
country’s mineral, water, land, oceanic and other natural resources, harbours, the
beaches and human resources, to protect ethnic rights, accelerate rural
development, secure the participation of all communities in the development
process and launch large-scale development projects.
Public participation in the peace process will be encouraged to reach a broad
national consensus through a series of open discussions based on the above
points while the country’s political parties, pressure groups, voluntary
organizations, religious organizations and the media will be invited to contribute to
a culture of peace.
Constitutional reforms will be proposed and approved according to proper legal
procedures in order to include the objectives reached through a broad consensus
in the state infrastructure.
iii. Rebuilding of lives affected by war and tsunami in the North and East will be
parallel to the peace process and will be utilized to build up confidence [among] all
communities that support peace.
A new Tsunami Reconstruction administrative infrastructure that will coordinate
with the Central Government, provincial councils, pradeshiya sabhas, political
parties and voluntary organizations will be introduced in place of the controversial
P-TOMS which is now before the courts. This new setup will be linked to ‘Jaya
Lanka’, the Government’s overall tsunami reconstruction and rehabilitation
program.
New projects will be introduced in the North and East to accelerate the
rehabilitation and reconstruction process in the two provinces.
A new Authority, named Jaathika Saviya, will be set up to resettle with no
discrimination all people displaced by war in their hometowns and ensure for them
a livelihood. Each resettled family will be initially paid Rs. 150,000 and Rs.
250,000 for a permanent house. Likewise we hope to provide tax money to all
those lost houses and property due to the establishment of High Security Zones.
Security forces will be ordered to do security checks without causing harassment
or embarrassment to anyone. Special units will be set up in all police stations to
enable to people to make complaints in their own language without fear or
suspicion. A three-year crash program will be launched to expedite the full
implementation of the official language policy in police stations, government
offices and other public places and minimize obstacles that Tamil-speaking people
face when dealing with the state organizations.
Realistic reforms will be done to make it clear at all state functions that Sri Lanka
belongs to all of its citizens.
Steps will be taken to build the intellectual, moral and spiritual environment
required for building peace and considering it as a collective effort rather than a
miracle or the work of one man or political party.
02. Constitutional reforms
A Constitutional Assembly will be set up if Constitutional reforms are needed for a
political solution to secure peace.
This Government has recognized many areas where Constitutional reforms are
needed. Changing the Constitution to secure the required balance between
stability and representing public opinion is among the most important. Our
manifesto has also proposed the abolishment of the Executive Presidency. For
this purpose Constitutional reform based on a broad consensus is required. Until
then our Government hopes to introduce Constitutional reforms by which the
President will be officially answerable to Parliament. The powers of Ministerial and
Working Committees will be increased with Parliamentary approval to ensure the
efficient participation of Government and Opposition MPs in state administration.
Steps will be taken to include the Charter of Human Rights in the Constitution to
ensure to protection of social, cultural, political, economic and civil rights of all Sri
Lankans on an equal basis without discrimination in accordance with the UN
charter and international conventions.
03. Rule of Law, good administration and government service
My Government is working towards building a disciplined society by strengthening
the Rule of Law. We will not leave room for anyone to beak the law by using
political or financial power or privileges. We will give priority to stamp out bribery
and corruption and empower new agencies for this purpose. We will introduce
reforms to eliminate bureaucratic attitudes and make the state administrative
service an exemplary public service. Steps will be taken to run all ministries,
departments, corporations and boards without unnecessary expenditure. The
salaries and allowances of public servants will be raised in accordance with the
pledges made in the Presidential Election Manifesto. New technology,
improvement of human resources and means to increase productivity will be
introduced to extensively reform the public service to meet today’s requirements.
Law enforcement agencies like the police, the judiciary and the prisons will be
strengthened with better facilities and a process of broad legal reforms will be
introduced to ensure efficiency and transparency in the criminal justice system. All
these will be aimed at making my Government follow a strong policy of righteous
rule.
04. Legislature
My Government’s policy is to fully safeguard the dignity of the Parliament, which is
the supreme institution that drafts the laws of the country. We are aware that in
the recent past there were unfortunate incidents that affected the dignity and
honour of the Parliament. If more laws are required to uphold the dignity of this
House and safeguard the powers and privileges of its members, my Government
will not hesitate to introduce them. But laws and regulations alone will not protect
the dignity of this institution. I hope that the Hon. Speaker and all of you will work
in unity and harmony to make the Parliament reflect the features of a developed
democracy.
05. A responsible society
Our Government will give full protection to religious freedom. The Government will
meet all its responsibilities towards all religions while safeguarding the special
place accorded to Buddhism under the Constitution. Our Government requests
religious dignitaries to give the Government the necessary assistance to make law-
abiding civilized citizens of high morals via the teachings of the noble founders of
different religions. My Government will stand for building a network where the
state, the citizenry and the market will be answerable to each other.
06. Overall economic policy
My Government will work towards build a new economy that ensures social justice,
opens up opportunities for individual progress and even totally pave the way for
this economically strong state in the community of nations. Our Government’s aim
is to boost new local and foreign investment to achieve speedy progress and build
a strong economy. All the salient features of the free market system will be
absorbed into the system for this purpose.
Government expenditure will be directed towards areas of economic importance to
ensure maximum benefits that fire the national economy. We will take steps to
reduce the budget gap to a bearable level through an efficient expenditure
management system. The taxation system too would be simplified.
07. Agriculture
The farmer faces untold suffering due to water scarcity, land shortage, crop
devastation and inability to sell his produce. We have identified that improving
farming and agriculture is a vital aspect in the country’s development. While the
country’s water resources belong to natives, we will initiate a giant development
scheme whereby major rivers and reservoirs and waterways will be linked by a
national irrigation system and dry land from North to South will be turned to wet
zones. Under this scheme the 10,000 reservoir (tank) project will be completed
and steps will be taken to launch multiple development projects associated with
the Yuma Oya, North Central Mahan Ella, Demure Oya, Manik River, Kumbukkan
Oya, Yan Oya, Heda Oya, Kirama Oya and Oorawa. My Government hopes to
deal with the shortage of cultivable land through a national policy. Initially we will
distribute 100,000 blocks of land among farmer families without land to cultivate.
Farmers who have already been provided with state land will be given the legal
right to own them. We will also provide land to the descendants of farmers in the
Mahaweli scheme and the agricultural colonies. We hope to achieve major
progress in the cultivation of paddy and other food crops. Essential chemical
fertilizer will be sold at a price of Rs. 350 per bag of 45 kilos. By this we hope to
make it an investment in improving agriculture in the country rather than providing
a mere subsidy.
We will ensure a guaranteed price for paddy, establish paddy-purchasing centers,
repair dilapidated small and medium scale rice mills and launch a rice processing
village project to boost agriculture and bring new prosperity to farmers.
We will take steps to revise the Agrarian Reform Act while providing facilities to
develop the cultivation of fruits and minor export crops and other agricultural
products to provide them with an overseas market.
We will introduce a national plan to revive the plantation economy involving tea,
rubber and coconut. Steps will be taken to change the unfortunate situation facing
major plantations and the relevant ministries will work to inject lifeblood to this
industry including tea smallholdings. A special program will be activated to
increase milk production and parallel to this, the marketing and consumption of
fresh milk will be encouraged.
08. Fisheries
Although sea and rich inland reservoirs and waterways surround the country, the
fishery industry is still stagnating. My Government in general and myself in
particular are keenly interested in this area. When I was Fisheries Minister I
established the Sagara University in the hope of making Sri Lanka reach the world’
s highest position in fisheries products. We will strengthen the Coast Guard to
protect aquatic resources and provide within a short time all the assistance
necessary to rebuild the lives of fishing families affected by the tsunami. Within
three years we will provide 500 fishing craft under an easy payment scheme.
Fishing nets and other implements will also be provided under a similar scheme.
Fishery harbours and anchorages will be developed and a fuel subsidy will be
given to fishermen. Steps will also be taken to open 150 new farms to breed salt
water and fresh water prawns while canning factories will be established in the
vicinity of the main fishery harbours.
09. Industrial development
I wish to inform the Hon. Members of the House that my Government will take
immediate steps to accelerate industrial progress. For this purpose 12 new
investment promotion zones covering the entire island will be established. Three
hundred new factories will be built and each Secretarial Division will get one
factory.
Our Government hopes to make medium- and small-scale industries the backbone
of our economy. For this purpose the relevant ministries will introduce special
plans and relevant bank services will be developed. To encourage investors we
have proposed the launching of the Lanka Puthra Banking Service.
Our Government hopes to make use of our good international relations to solve
the problems that the apparel industry is currently facing. To increase the value of
apparel exports we hope to establish three textile zones and will pay constant
attention to the health and other welfare requirements of those employed in the
apparel industry.
10. Construction
Our Government hopes to make a massive transformation in the area of
construction. We plan to launch a major housing development and urban
development scheme. Our plans include other large-scale constructions relevant
to an expanding economy. We will make the Construction Training and
Development Institute an Authority while introducing special banking and monetary
services to overcome the lack of capital for these projects.
11. Tourism industry
My Government’s aim is to bring new life to the tourism industry, which is a major
foreign exchange earner for this country. Our target is to attract 1.5 million foreign
tourists to this country by 2010 and we are planning to organize the industry
accordingly. Special attractive tourist zones will be set up in Hambantota, Kalpitiya,
[and] Arugam Bay.
12. Power
During my six-year term I will direct my Government to overcome the energy crisis.
We will build new power stations according to Electricity Board plans and launch
the ‘Power for All’ program, to provide power to villages that so far had no
electricity. We will ensure the people’s ownership of the CEB and the Petroleum
Corporation and see that the public will benefit from the exploration of oil deposits
off Sri Lanka’s coast, through the ministry specially set up for the purpose.
13. Transport
Transport too has become a national crisis in our country. We will develop our
railway network and build a number of new rail tracks. You are already aware that
a new ministry has already been set up for this purpose. We will strengthen the
Ceylon Transport Board and make it Sri Lanka’s proud national transport service
by developing bus depots and providing them with more buses. We will also give
priority to the numerous problems facing the private bus service. Steps will be
taken to reorganize the National Transport Commission and streamline timetables,
passenger safety, rural and school bus services and night services. Plans have
also been drawn up to build new expressways parallel to the improvement of
railways.
14. Information technology
We believe that Sri Lanka, with its ancient heritage of having been a centre of
knowledge in Asia and considering its high literacy rate and its talented human
resources, should undergo speedy development in the area of information
technology . We shall therefore formulate the necessary policies and legal and
institutional backgrounds required to achieve this objective in the area of mass
communication. We hope to expand computer knowledge and technology
countrywide by taking computer technology to the village under the Nenasala
Program. Through this project we expect to develop Sri Lanka as a regional
center in the Asian information network.
15. Health services
It is our responsibility to protect the free health service and the Government will
guarantee the right of every citizen to receive a good health service. The hospital
system will be developed and steps will be taken to improve disease control
methods and health education. More doctors and nurses will be recruited and
their services will be given to the rural sector. We will also implement the Senaka
Bibile drugs policy.
16. Education
A theme in our Presidential Election campaign was to build a country suitable for
children. We will plan education, higher education and vocational training on a
national scale to help our children and youth to improve their talents and
knowledge and do everything possible to brighten the lives of our future
generation.
I recall here what the great Chinese philosopher Confucius said thousands of
years ago:
“If you are planning for a year grow paddy.
If you are planning for ten years plant trees.
If you are planning for a century educate people.”
If we are build our country we should look at this century in which we live and
make our national plans accordingly. It is with such a broad vision that we should
formulate education policies. I appeal to this august assembly not to consider our
interventions for the sake of education as relief assistance but as investments for
the sake of the country.
During the recent election campaign I was able to read the UNP’s election
manifesto. I wish to state sincerely that in their manifesto there were several
valuable points that should be appreciated. Among them the concept ‘English For
All’ on page 35 drew my attention. I wish to inform you that I hope to implement the
concept with some revisions while giving you members of the main Opposition the
credit for it. I wish to remind that according to Mahinda Chintanaya political colours
cannot measure good things.
We will fully safeguard the right to free education. We will take steps to teach the
mother tongue – Sinhala and Tamil – and English to every child. Every child will be
provided with a free midday meal. We shall improve laboratory, language
teaching, computer, library, sports and other facilities in all Maha Vidyalayas and
other government schools throughout the country. We will raise 325 schools to the
highest level, selecting one school from each Secretarial Division. Education
service will be depoliticised and a number of steps will be taken for the welfare of
teachers and employees in the educational administrative service. One challenge
to provide higher education to all those is the advanced level. I wish to state the
Government will accept the challenge. We will increase the number of university
admissions and improve facilities in the universities. We will also raise the
Mahapola and student allowance by Rs. 500. We will also take steps to introduce
changes in the vocational training under a life skills program. We shall increase
training opportunities in the state sector from 60,000 to 100,000 to accommodate
school leavers. One hundred more vocational training centers will be set up [and]
500 community schools will be established under the Vocational Training Authority
to increase livelihood opportunities.
17. Rising again after the tsunami
Our Government has found the reasons for the slow progress in rebuilding
houses and infrastructure facilities destroyed in the tsunami. I am happy to inform
the Honourable Members of the House that my Government will overcome this
challenge and launch a giant development and reconstruction scheme within 2006
to rebuild the lives of those affected by the tsunami in Sri Lanka’s coastal areas. I
am happy to inform that I took the decision at my first Cabinet meeting to
implement this program thorough the Reconstruction and Development Authority,
which functions under the President’s direct supervision.
18. Provincial development
We will also launch a number of special programs targeting the development of
the different provinces, districts and other areas in addition to the common
national program. These comprise the Northern Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
Program, Negenahira Nawodaya, Senakadala Nawodaya, Ruhunu Arunaloyaka,
Rajarata Nawodaya, Wayamba Punarjeewanaya, Pubudamu Wellassa and New
Life for Plantations.
19. Social development
Eradicating poverty
We are happy about the successes that our Samurdhi Movement achieved so far
in overcoming poverty in families. Hence we are confident the Samurdhi program
can meet future challenges and therefore will give it a further boost to achieve its
objectives. We will increase Samurdhi allowances by 50 percent. Parallel to it we
will launch projects that will help to increase the monthly income of Samurdhi
recipients up to Rs. 5000. I have decided to increase the allowance of Rs. 5000
given to a low-income family in the case of death up to Rs. 10,000 with effect from
the first week of December. Similarly the allowances paid in the case of child birth
and the scholarship scheme meant for children of such families will become
effective immediately. Likewise we shall provide relief assistance in the form of milk
powder to reduce cost of living burdens of such families, a special allowance for
government employees and relief in the payment of water, electricity and fuel bills,
nutrients for pregnant mothers, [and] an allowance of Rs. 200 per month for poor
families to purchase milk for children up to year five.
Houses
My Government’s aim is to provide a house for every person who does not own a
house. To reach that objective we are taking several steps. We shall provide
100,000 blocks of land for those who want to build houses but cannot do so
because they do not own any land. For state employees in urban areas we will
launch four projects to build flats. For shanty dwellers in urban areas we will build
65,000 new houses. There will also be a commercial housing scheme coming
under easy payment schemes. At the rural level we will build 25 houses every year
in every village.
Village building
A weakness in state policy for a number of years was to ignore the village. Our
Government’s policy will be to first build the village in order to develop the country.
Accordingly, we are introducing the Gama Neguma program with the broad
objective of developing every village in the country with all facilities. Our plan will
be as follows:
* Electricity for every village that has no power
* A public telephone service for every village
* Sufficient supply of drinking water
* Irrigated water for cultivation
* Rural approach roads via Maga Neguma
* Infrastructure development
* Rural schools with human and material resources
* Health centre
* Cooperative store to provide consumer items at low cost
* Paddy store, fertilizer store and rice mill
* Factory to provide employment
* Pre-school with playground
* Community Hall and sports ground
* People’s Committee
* People’s Committee Secretariat
* Nenasala Computer Centre
* Forest area
* Public cemetery.
My Government’s aim is to usher in a new era in rural development in the decade
starting in 2006 by building model villages with all or many of the above features.
We shall also launch programs with the assistance of law enforcement agencies,
schools, religious centers and community organizations to eradicate drunkenness,
gambling, and drug addiction from our villages. I will take every possible step to
eradicate the drug menace by the end of my first year.
Employment
A major [objective] of our overall economic policy is to provide employment to our
youth who are either jobless or underemployed. In this connection we will be
launching a special program called Young Diriya. While filling all state sector
vacancies we will work out a plan to provide employment to 10,000 graduates
every year. We will direct every ministry in my Government to generate
employment in the state sector, the private sector, foreign service and the sphere
of self-employment.
20. Mass media, literature and culture
The basis of our information, mass media and cultural policy will be to uphold
people’s right to receive accurate information and ensure the broad participation
of the mass media in achieving the country’s social, cultural and economic goals. I
wish that the Information and Media Ministry of our Government will be making a
special contribution to the progress of media personnel, media organizations and
the media industry. We shall develop our cultural policy to strengthen the citizen’s
cultural life by developing our language and literature and safeguarding our
ancient values.
21. Sports
I shall work towards ensuring the physical and mental health of our youth and
bring our sportsmen and sportswomen to international levels by introducing a new
national sports policy. A special program will worked out to provide sports facilities
including an indoor stadium to every district and improve sports from the village
level.
22. Foreign policy
In the area of foreign policy, I must begin by saying that I intend to ensure the
continuity of the foreign policy of the UPFA Government. I will naturally emphasize
areas where Sri Lanka’s immediate and compelling national interests are evident.
In its broadest sense, we will follow a foreign policy of friendship with all and enmity
towards none. We will build on our solid and very close bilateral relationships with
our immediate neighbors in the sub-region, as well as our friends in Asia. We will
further strengthen out relations with the rest of the world. Sri Lanka will continue to
be a consensus builder in the international arena in keeping with the long-
standing tradition of Sri Lankan diplomacy. To this end we will be guided by the
principles espoused by the Non-Aligned Movement and the developing countries
where these principles and our national interests converge.
My personal commitment as a human rights campaigner at the grassroots level
makes me accord priority to the promotion and protection of human rights in our
international endeavors. I hope to build upon a very positive and proactive role
played by Sri Lanka in promoting human rights. We will do this through
international cooperation, not through confrontation. Greater efforts will be made
to widen and deepen the economic content of our foreign policy efforts and
foreign relations activities, as already initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
under the late Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar. In order to achieve the 8 percent
economic growth rate envisioned by the Mahinda Chintanaya, I intend to mobilize
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our Missions abroad to attract sufficient levels
of foreign direct investments (FDIs) under this programme. We can thus make the
foreign relations effort immediately relevant to the people of this country through
socioeconomic development. We will continue to play an active role in the United
Nations and other multilateral bodies as well as sub-regional and regional forums.
We will be constructive and creative in contributing to efforts at regional and
multilateral levels, to support national activities for economic development,
humanitarian assistance, [and] conflict resolution, whether these are intra-state or
inter-state. I also propose to very strongly pursue and promote broad bipartisan
support for our foreign policy activities, which have been the hallmark of our
foreign relations since independence.
23. Policy Feed Back Council
We plan to introduce a new subject to Sri Lanka’s public policy. It is policy
feedback. We shall appoint an all-powerful commission called the Policy Feed
Back Council, operating under the President’s direct supervision. The commission’
s task will be to decide annual targets in implementing different state policy
programs, reviewing their progress, studying setbacks and recommending
necessary solutions.
My Government is not a talking Government but a working Government. On the
day I was sworn in as President I appealed to my fellow citizens thus:
Mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters: Work for the welfare
of the country. Do your duty. Work with determination. Our country will develop
through work. When the country progresses, you too will progress.
Honorable Members, it goes without saying that the office of the President, which I
took over, and my Government will face numerous challenges. In a way politics
means accepting challenges and facing them fearlessly. I wish to state here that I
along with members of my Cabinet, other Ministers and MPs are ready to accept
any challenges. As I stressed over and over during the recent election campaign,
our Government is a regime that works for the welfare of children. Our
Government is formulating policies to build a bright future for our children. Last
17th saw the dawn of a common people’s era in our country. The flowers that will
blossom in that dawn are our future generation. Hence I hope that you as
members of this Supreme Public Institution will extend your maximum support to
my Government. In conclusion I wish you all will have the thoughts, strength and
courage to build a new Sri Lanka.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you. God bless you.
