Our main objective of the election
was to ensure the victory of a policy. Today the majority
of the people has endorsed that policy by exercising
universal suffrage, a necessary feature of the sovereignty
of the people. It is a policy that protects the country
without dividing it. It is a policy that takes the country
forward by eradicating poverty, under-development and
backwardness. It is a policy that builds a new Sri Lanka.
I would like to declare that from now on it is not a
mere election
manifesto but the public policy of the state.
Throughout the election campaign
we stressed that we would be working to achieve an honourable
peace in the country. During the Presidential election
the overwhelming majority of the people said that the
country should not be divided. Today it is the common
national aspiration of the people. It is this aspiration
that would be the basis of my policy for achieving peace.
I intend to begin a peace process based on this premise.
War is not my method. I will initiate a new round of
talks with all those who have a stake in the solution
of the National Question. I would like to say that I
would take steps to accommodate due representation of
the interests of both the North and the South in the
talks. We would replace the hitherto held bilateral
approach to peace with a multi-party approach. On this
occasion I would like to reiterate my desire to engage
in direct talks with the LTTE. We would revise and update
the existing ceasefire to overcome its defects.
I appeal to India and other friendly
Asian neighbours as well as to the international community
who love our small island nation to assist us in reaching
an honourable peace in the country.
An year ago a great natural calamity
struck us. I would like to say that I will be setting
up a special institution under my supervision to rebuild
all areas devastated by the tsunami including those
in the North and East of the country.
From today onwards I will steer a
macro-economic policy that ensures social justice while
opening ample opportunities for the development of the
individual with the objective of building a new economy
that could take Sri Lanka to a strong position in the
world economy. It is my intention to increase new investments
in the economy to achieve rapid economic development.
We would provide maximum opportunities for foreign investment.
Our aim is to ensure benefits of economic development
to our citizens. I will initiate a program of rapid
economic development that will use all positive features
of the free market system while giving pride of place
to local entrepreneurs to develop agriculture, industry
and services.
My policy is never to postpone for
tomorrow what could be done today. The
Buddhist teaching on punctuality is equally applicable
to statecraft and public policy. Therefore we will have
to take firm and responsible decisions in building a
disciplined society. In this respect my policy will
be to consolidate the rule of law to the maximum. The
law of the country should be just. Everybody including
the President of the country should obey and respect
that just law.
I would like to state here that I
will not allow anyone to subvert law and order using
political power and privileges. I believe all state
institutions should strictly follow policies of good
governance. My Prime Minister, members of my Cabinet,
the Armed Forces and the Police, the entire public service
from the highest officer to the lowest rank should follow
these good governance norms. Public service should be
a responsible and ethical service where there is no
room for fraud, bribery and corruption. We must go back
to the good administrative principle that the public
servant is not a lord encouraging bureaucracy but a
servant of the people. There should be a mutually responsible
and properly interlinked system of the state, the market
and the civil society. Our slogan of a disciplined society
includes the protection of culture and morals. With
this objective in mind I stated in my election campaign
that we must open a path where the noble teachings of
all religions could be made use of. I am a Buddhist.
I was labelled as an anti-religious fanatic. A hate
campaign was unleashed portraying me as an anti-Christian.
I have no enmity against these peoples. Only thing I
say here is that we should get rid of this decadent
political culture. During my reign of office adherents
of all religions could freely hold their religious beliefs
and conduct their religious affairs freely in temples,
churches, mosques and kovils. There will be no state
interference in religion. The state has enough work.
I appeal to the clergy of all religions to inculcate
the teachings of the founders of your religions in your
devotees and thus develop our children and adults as
good, virtuous, cultured citizens worthy of being members
in a new democratic society.
We will build a country suitable
for our children. I will not hesitate to do all I can
to build a knowledgeable, skilled, strong and healthy
citizenry. I am taking office for a short period - a
period of six years. Political power is not a privilege
but only a temporary trust.
I am not the master but the trustee
of the country. I pledge to defend by all means
the country you entrusted to me. I will act according
to this pledge. From now on Mahinda Rajapakse as President
will not be a leader that belongs exclusively to any
single party or group. I will not discriminate against
anyone on the grounds of politics, colour, race or religion.
My political policy from now on will be the rule of
law and protection of human rights.
I do not consider the UNP and its
leader who contested with me at the Presidential elections
as enemies. I appeal to all my voters not to harm by
any means those that hold different opinions. Instead
I appeal to the main Opposition party to unite with
me in implementing our new program to build the country.
I appeal to the UNP to give maximum
support to our efforts to achieve peace. I appeal to
the media to be responsible and contribute to the welfare
of the country by adhering to democracy and accepted
ethics. My journey to the Presidency was long and full
of challenges. I know I have many more challenges before
me in the future. I would like to state here that I
would boldly accept all those challenges without hesitation
for the welfare of my country and my beloved people.
We are Asians. Asia has made a great
contribution to the world. I would work in close cooperation
with our Asian friends, protecting Asian value systems
to make our country strong. I will follow a progressive
foreign policy that suits our country.
I am not a prince born with a golden
spoon in the mouth. Like most of you I am a leader that
grew from the ordinary people.
Therefore I do not need new advisors
to understand the problems of the people. I can understand
them well. I will provide advisors and experts with
positions that suit their knowledge and expertise.
I will not build any barriers that
make me inaccessible to the people. My Presidential
house and office are open to the people.
I am ready to steer my country learning
from history what should be learnt. I understand that
it is my duty to steer the country forward rectifying
our mistakes in the past and defending our achievements.
But I am no slave of history. I want to steer the country
along a new path. I am a new leader. I will lead a new
Government, a new Cabinet of Ministers, a new policy,
a new Sri Lanka, a new citizenry. I have decided to
bring before Parliament new Budget proposals based on
the Mahinda Chintanaya we presented to the people. I
believe it is necessary to begin my term of office with
the people's confidence in me intact. I assure all Sri
Lankans that I will take forward my rule protecting
parliamentary democracy at its best.
I believe my friends are those who
offer just criticism and not those who sing hosannas
in my praise. I will prepare the environment for it.
Finally, I would like to appeal to my dear compatriots
thus: Mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters, children
work for the welfare of the country.
Perform your duty. Be resolute and
industrious in your work. Let us develop our country
through our work. As the country prospers you will also
prosper. I wish you all success.
May the Triple Gem bless you.
May all gods protect you.
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