Irrespective of whether he has, or does not have, positions, he said he will commit himself to be a partner and a leader of the SLFP’s progressive political movement, he said.
The president said he would always accept and respect the public opinion given at any moment. Same is with the rulings of judges. He said he was not concerned if his term was six years or five years. He said he had no desire to remain, and was prepared to leave the position and go along with the public in a populist journey.
Noting that even his predecessors sought opinions just like he did, he said there are two opinions in the legal and intellectual circles regarding his term. The Supreme Court has been consulted on his tenure as there are plans that should be made during his term for the development of the country. Some in both the government and the opposition are worried by that, although that is quite a democratic act, he said.
President Sirisena said he was glad that he was able to meet the people of Tissamaharama by visiting Hambantota after some time. The leftist, progressive and patriotic people of Hambantota are bound tightly with the SLFP, he said.
They have a distinguished relationship with the SLFP since D.A. Rajapaksa joined SWRD Bandaranaike to leave the government and give leadership to the opposition in 1956. Their struggle created national leaders from the area in the past six decades. As a mark of admiration of that, Mahinda Amaraweera from this area was appointed the UPFA general secretary, said the president. The party is open for you all today and it is democratic, free and does not consider any differences, he said.
The president urged the people to elect disciplined, flexible, clean, honest, populist representatives at the LG polls to serve their villages. Our candidates are the ones who will take custody of the country tomorrow and they have the opportunity to go up higher, even to the presidency. But, he warned them against committing any wrongdoing. He said he would enforce discipline strictly in the SLFP, UPFA and would forgive no wrongdoer, irrespective of position.
The president also said the country had failed to go forward despite having all the natural and physical resources due to serious issues in the political culture, which has been infested with corrupt, fraudulent, wasteful politicians who have violated the public trust in them. State officials have followed suit, he said, adding however, that not all politicians and officials were like that.
He made it clear that anyone found guilty by the two commissions appointed by him would be punished irrespective of their politics or positions. In about a week, another will be appointed to look into fraud and corruption at SriLankan and Mihin Lanka airlines, he said. The party as well as the government will be purified, the president made it clear.
Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi - Hambantota
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