Good Governance government would go very strongly for five years for the betterment of the people of the country and decide the future program in 2020, President Maithripala Sirisena said.
He made these comments yesterday (Aug 19) addressing the ‘Aluth Ratak – Eka Gamanak’, the first year anniversary celebration of the five-year journey of the good governance government at Matara Sanath Jayasuriya grounds . The Good Governance government was given the power on 17th August 2015.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and State Ministers represented the SLFP, and UNP, Provincial Governors, and Provincial and local government representatives participated.
“When the new government completes a period of one year and eight months, some people ask what the new government has done for the country so far. I answer them briefly that the main thing we did for the country is giving the people the freedom, and establishing the democracy in the country. As well as rescuing the country from a huge economic conflict, and winning the international companions, who rejected us such as United Nations”, he added.
“The consensus government was formed by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and United National Party together with a few other minor parties to face the prevailing economic conflict, and to build a strong economy in the country. We know that majority of the people has no idea about this new concept of consensus government. They have no such experience and even the public servants and politicians. This a new experience for them. That is why they are giving many wrong definitions to it”, President added.
He pointed out that presently, the beautiful development carried out during the previous time is frequently discussed but, this beautiful development is the cause for the huge debt burden which the country is suffering.
According to him, a country should be developed on long term plans putting only a bearable weight on people. The new government is dedicated to rescue the country from the prevailing economic conflict and develop it.
“This economic conflict was not made by us. A huge debt burden was not made by us. Those who did this is walking along the roads. I clearly say the previous government immediately called for an election in 2014, two years earlier to finish term in office because of their inability to face this economic conflict, and UNHCR proposals.”
President replied those who questioned that what the new government has done for the country saying that the he and the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are the leaders who removed the word ‘electric chair’ from the people’s dictionary. He questioned that what would happen to the country if people re offer the country for the then leadership instead of giving him at the Presidential election in 2015. If it happened, the international financial institutions would have gone far away from us and we would have been isolated among the international community, President said and added ‘this situation was changed with the appointment of the new government under me and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. We are not afraid of the foreign powers and none of them will be allowed to manage this country.” He also promised to take every possible effort to make the country free from the UNHCR resolution. Those who have the knowledge, intelligence, maturity and identification would have a good understanding about the victories we have won.”
President while re-emphasizing that the wrong doers would never be allowed to come to power once again, promised to take due actions without any hesitation even against any member of the new government against corruption.