President Maithripala Sirisena says that the day he quit the previous government and gave up his ministerial portfolio to contest the presidential election as the common opposition candidate, was the happiest day of his life.
The President made these remarks at the national ceremony to mark the one year completion of the democratic governance, held today (Jan. 08) at the BMICH.
“I accepted the most dangerous challenge and risk on November 21, 2014 when I left the then government after working for 13 continuous years as the General Secretary of the party, 26 years in parliament and 48 years in the SLFP.”
“If someone asks me on what day was I the happiest, I will say that the happiest day of my life was the day I gave up all my positions and left the government,” he said.
“The happiness of giving up power and being free of responsibilities.”
President Sirisena says after a completion of a year as the servant of the people, the agenda for the next five years will be the building of the motherland to a great nation in the world.
“Some people ask me what will be my place after the completion of my tenure as President when I agreed to abolish the powers of the Executive Presidency. My answer to them as well as for those who are not asking the same question from me, is I don’t think about my place in five more years, but think about the place of this country over the period of five years”, he said.
“The people brought us to power, expecting the social democratization of our country. Also , they expect a good economic management in good governance by ending the corruption, fraud and irregularity in this country”, the president said.
In the task of building the modern Sri Lankan state it is essential to bring about the national reconciliation and the unity among the communities in this country by leaving off the mistrust and suspicion among them, he said.
When we talk about constitutional changes some sections of the society says we are attempting to divide this country, he added.
Some say we are trying to destroy the place given to Buddhism in this country and some say we are focusing to endanger the national security of the country by weakening our security forces on foreign advices the President said that adding perhaps our achievements may not be felt or seen or understand, but those are the essential ingredients of transformation towards the righteous society.
President Maithripala Sirisena granted a presidential pardon to a former LTTE cadre, convicted on charges of attempting to assassinate him in 2006 at the event.
The convict was sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment by the Polonnaruwa High Court on July 3, 2015 and it was upheld by the Supreme Court.
The launch of the book titled “One Nation Great Power” took place parallel to this event.
The keynote address of this ceremony delivered by former Governor and Ambassador Gopalkrishna Gandhi, who is the grandson of Mahathma Gandhi.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Subinay Nandy also addressed the event.
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Opposition Leader R. Sambandan, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Ministers, MPs, politicians, artiste and many others participated in the event.
