Blog

Most Venerable MahaSangha,

Other Religious Dignitaries

Hon. Prime Minister

Hon. Speaker

Hon. Chief Justice

Hon. Ministers, Ministers of State and Members of Parliament

Hon. Governors

1. E. the Ambassadors and High Commissioners

Secretary to the President and all State Officials

Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army

Commander of the Navy

Commander of the Air Force

Inspector General of Police

Director General of the Department of the Civil Security

Distinguished Invitees

War Heroes

All Sri Lankan brothers and sisters

Beloved children

 

Sri Lanka is a Unitary State. It is a free, sovereign, independent and democratic Republic.On this occasion when we celebrate 72 years of Independence after nearly 500 years of imperialist colonial rule, I address you as the Head of the State with a pledge to further strengthen your freedom. I pay tribute to all Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay and Burgher leaders who dedicated themselves to achieving and ensuring this Independence.

Every citizen living in Sri Lanka has the right to live freely and securely. We will always ensure their right to think freely, hold independent opinions, and express themselves without any hindrance.   We will always respect the right of any citizen to follow the religion of his or her choice. Every citizen has the right of free association and of free assembly. We will always defend the right of every Sri Lankan citizen to participate in the political and governance processes through his or her elected representatives. We consider all these as rights of human beings that no one can challenge.

 

There are several domains that need to be maintained in equilibrium for democracy to function properly. Maintaining the balance of power between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary is very important in this regard. There needs to be a clear consensus on the responsibilities of the central government and decentralized authorities in the devolution of power. The responsibilities of the civilian and military establishments need to be clearly understood, and we must always remember that citizens have individual as well as collective rights.  Coordination between the State and the public is integral to this.

Following Independence, every leader who came to power in this Republic was elected through universal franchise.  As the current Head of the State elected through the popular vote, I am ready to work with the utmost dedication for the betterment of the country and its people during my term of office.

In a democracy, when the leader is elected following a legitimate process, he becomes the President of all the people of the country.  During his term of office, he must serve the entire Sri Lankan people. He is not bound to serve only the interests of the people who voted for him. I have the vision that I must serve as the leader of the country looking after all citizens rather than serve as a political leader concerned only about a particular community. As the President today, I represent the entire Sri Lankan nation irrespective of ethnicity, religion, party affiliation or other differences.

A strong executive, a legislature and an independent judiciary is essential for the well-being and advancement of any democratic society.  If, for whatever reason, there is a loss of public confidence in any of these key institutions fundamental to the functioning of a country, that can give rise to anarchy within the country. Therefore, all such stakeholders must perform their role with the powers they have been granted for the welfare of the country and for protecting the sovereignty of the people with a national vision.

I am committed to working towards fulfilling the needs of the people of this country.  That is my responsibility and my duty. I do not envisage public officials, lawmakers or the judiciary to impede my implementing this commitment.  I not only respect your freedom, but I will work towards improving it and guarantee the political and economic freedom in a truly democratic country.

Some limitations on the freedoms of the people have arisen because of the way public administration has evolved over time.Those rules and regulations that have been enacted without adequate study and coordination have led to the public facing considerable harassment and inconvenience.  This has led to various irregularities and corruption. Losses to the public in terms of time, resources and livelihood opportunities are enormous.

We must re-examine the need to obtain licenses for things that affect the day-to-day lives of the people. We must refrain from imposing unnecessary restrictions on the majority of the people; instead we must swiftly enforce the law against the minority who transgress it. We must give our people the opportunity and real freedom to live law abiding, disciplined and virtuous lives.

Outdated laws, regulations, taxes and charges that prevent people from freely undertaking self-employment, traditional industries or businesses need to be revised swiftly.We will work towards removing unnecessary restrictions imposed on the public to better ensure their right to live freely.

Sri Lanka is a country with an ancient history.   It is a country that has been nurtured by the Buddhist philosophy, and a country that has been a haven for people of all ethnicities and religious beliefs. During my term of office, I will guarantee the freedom of all persons to follow the religion of their choice.

 

In the Buddhist philosophy, our leaders always have been advised to ensure a lawful, just and fair governance where no citizen is discriminated. I am committed to protecting and nurturing the Buddhist philosophy of this country during my tenure.

The public will only achieve true freedom when social and economic inequalities are minimized. All citizens within a Unitary State should have equal rights.

Even today, there is a large gap between the haves and have nots in our society.   The facilities that are available in our urban centers are lacking in rural areas. Education facilities are not equal in all areas. Healthcare facilities are not equally dispersed. Job opportunities have not spread to all regions.  These inequalities are not due to racial or religious reasons. These are common problems that the country faces. In strengthening the ability for people to live freely, we must first address the economic problems that affect the public.That is why the eradication of poverty is a priority of our Government.

Thirty years of conflict and various other factors have delayed the progress of development in our country.   We can no longer afford to waste time. We will act to accelerate our development activities in line with new trends in the global economy by making appropriate use of our country’s unique geographical location, natural resources and human resources.

An efficient and corruption- free Public Service is essential for the development of a nation. The public administration and governance must function in a proper manner so as to grant people the maximum benefit of their freedom.The entire public administration must accept responsibility for this.

If due to terrorists, extremists, thieves, thugs, extortionists, women and child abusers, there is impediment to ordinary life of the people, then the people will not be free. We have paid special attention to strengthening the National Security and Public Security. We will not allow extremist organizations that pave the way for terrorism to further function in the country.

Parents will not be free until their children are liberated from the drug menace that has spread throughout the country. The public will not be free as long as there is corruption in state institutions. Therefore, we will strictly enforce the law to eliminate all social hazards that can impact ordinary social life.  The reforms required to increase the efficiency of the law enforcement agencies in order to accomplish this are already being carried out.

I wish to fully strengthen the freedom of people to think and to write freely. It is then that visionaries and quality works of art will be created. My government is always ready to tolerate and accommodate opposing views. The media has complete freedom today. We have ensured that everyone has the right to freely express themselves.

Social media can pose new challenges to democracy. Spending more time online, often with complete strangers, creates situations where people are misled by false information resulting in their swiftly believing the worst of those who bear different views.

I request everyone to act in accordance with one’s conscience. Always think about the country.  Think about your fellow citizens.  Without thinking only about political requirements, think carefully about whether your actions and your words will benefit or harm the country. However, if your conscience tells you that the government is moving in the wrong direction, you always have a duty to point this out boldly.

We must always respect the rule of law. The public will get real freedom only when the law is fairly and equally applied. My government has taken steps to change the culture of political interference in legal matters.

 

We have many challenges ahead of us. We need everyone’s support for the efforts taken by the government to overcome them. The Policy Statement I placed before you comprises an action plan that will allow us to overcome the challenges before us.  It is our expectation to create a prosperous nation through this. Only the present generation can realize this hope on behalf of future generations. I request all Sri Lankans to join with us in accepting this responsibility that history has bestowed upon us.

 

I wish you all a prosperous future !

 

 

The Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of the Grand Dutchy ofLuxembourg Jean Asselborn paid a courtesy call on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat today (31). The Minister was accompanied with the Delhi based Luxembourg Ambassador Jean Claude Kugener.

Luxembourg and Sri Lanka are very similar, the Minister noted. Both are small countries and just like Sri Lanka has India and China as powerful neighbours, Luxembourg is sandwiched between France and Germany.

The discussion was mostly centered on strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

President Rajapaksa was interested in the renewable energy, cargo and financial sector solutions that Luxembourg can offer Sri Lanka.

“Sri Lanka with its year around Sun would really benefit with solar power solutions,” observed the Minister.

“Investors in solar and wind are certainly welcomed in Sri Lanka”, stated the President. “Another good area to explore in Sri Lanka is agriculture. Today, there’s a big market for organic vegetables in the world. The Middle Eastern countries are bid importers. Sri Lanka is an ideal country considering the easy distance to supply to such markets”.

Though he himself is not an expert on the banking sector, the Minister said that Luxembourg is a financial hub and would have much to offer Sri Lanka. Secretary to the President Dr. P. B. Jayasundara who was also present at the discussion noted that sometimes it is easier to work with smaller entities with regard to financial concerns.

Reiterating his commitment to develop the lives of the people, the President said “We need commercial investments to come to the country. We do not want money but investments in terms of education, technology, agriculture and industry. The high tech industries can certainly take advantage of our highly trainable workforce”.

The Minister promised to talk to the cargo sector and interest them in investing in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Ambassador in Brussels Ms. Grace Asirwatham could certainly facilitate the areas that were just discussed, he said.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructed health authorities to collect information from experts in indigenous and western medicine to find a remedy to cure those affected with coronavirus.

President issued these instructions during a meeting with Ministers and officials of Health, Foreign Relations, Tourism and Higher Education held at the Presidential Secretariat today (31).

The first coronavirus victim identified in Sri Lanka is now in stable condition. Sri Lankan doctors were capable of preventing the spread of the disease. President commended efforts of everyone who contributed to secure this result and advised them to continue their mission.

President reviewed the steps taken by the committee of experts to prevent the spreading of the disease and to bring back the Sri Lankan students from China.

Instructing officials to provide all the necessary facilities to the students returned from Wuhan and ensure their well-being President highlighted the importance of taking measures to sustain the tourism industry amidst this global health threat.

He also instructed officials to take steps to enhance facilities available at hospitals.

Ministers Chamal Rajapaksa, Dinesh Gunawardena, Bandula Gunawardena, Arundika Fernando, Pavithra Wanniarachchi and several Ministry officials were present at the meeting.

he World Bank and Sri Lanka today identified several new areas of development cooperation in addition to World Bank funded existing projects. They are renewable energy, garbage disposal, watershed management, plantation for export, easing traffic congestion and pedestrian and road safety.

This understanding was reached during the discussion that followed when Hartwig Schafer, Vice President of the World Bank for South Asia called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (31). Mr. Schafer said that concessional funding could be made available for projects to be implemented in these areas.

President Rajapaksa recalling his association with some of the World Bank funded projects such as road development and city beautification completed during his tenure as the Defence Secretary welcomed further assistance from the Bank. Referring to development of the plantation sector President emphasized the need to focus on minor crops such as pepper and cinnamon. The World Bank Vice President responded “these crops offer enormous opportunity in terms of employment and export income generation”.

“At present there are 18 ongoing World Bank funded projects. Some of them are progressing well. Some are not. World Bank will go ahead with the Kandy Multi Model Terminal Project aimed at easing traffic congestion”, Mr. Schafer observed.

President Rajapaksa highlighting the importance of using modern technology in such activities expressed willingness to have further discussions to decide on specific projects.

Ms. Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough, the Country Director of the World Bank and Dr. P. B. Jayasundara, Secretary to the President were also present.

Collecting information on graduates and equally qualified diploma holders had now been completed in order to provide employment to all of them. Securing required funds too is underway.

The objective of the government is to provide employment opportunities in accordance with the degree obtained and existing vacancies at government and semi-government bodies and departments. Recruiting around 53,000 graduates will commence from March 01^st.

The government has undertaken the task if ensuring job security for those who are employed on temporary, casual and contract basis and have completed 180 days. All the qualified candidates will be granted permanent employment following discussions with the relevant authorities. During the last two months, an in-depth study had been carried out on the issues faced by the students at universities and other higher educational institutes.

The government endeavours to provide the best possible solutions to these issues. Protestors now enjoy the freedom to demonstrate right opposite the President’s Office. No government in the past had allowed such freedom.

It is the policy of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to look into the issues closely and provide solutions. The officials at the President’s Office spend a considerable amount of time to listen to the grievances of protestors. Demands of most of the protestors are similar.  Today alone (29), six groups staged protests in front of the President’s Office. Discussing concerns of all these groups is a time-consuming process. This results in unnecessary delays in the implementation of the government’s employment programme. In addition, the general public have to suffer unexpected hardships. Further, it is waste of time and money even on the part of the protestors. The government requests all the protesting groups to understand this reality and have faith on the government’s process and extend support to make it a success.

 

• 50% discount on air tickets
• Continued medical screening of students
• National Action Committee meets today
• Separate exit terminal for passengers arriving from China

Sri Lankan students studying in China are now returning from China. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Beijing says that a group of 21 students have left for Sri Lanka this afternoon.   The President’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Relations, the Ministry of Health, Sri Lankan Embassy in China and SriLankan Airlines are coordinating the evacuation process.

Students from Sichuan and various others parts in China are being transported to airports by bus. 30 students remaining in the city of Nanning will also join them. Discussions are currently underway with the Chinese government to bring back Sri Lankan students in Wuhan which is currently locked down.

The national carrier, SriLankan Airlines has taken measures to provide air tickets to students at a discount rate of 50%. Facilities are available to connect with the Airline through its hotline. Payment through a third-party credit card is also permitted.

Collecting information on students in China has now been completed. A National Action Committee to prevent the spreading of coronavirus comprising health experts was appointed under the direction of the President. The committee is scheduled to meet today and discuss future steps.

Relevant authorities frequently communicate with students to verify their wellbeing. Those who had arrived from China are requested to attend regular medical screening and to be vigilant about their bodily temperature.

They are also requested to wear facemasks for at least 20 days.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority had set up a separate arrival terminal supported by precautionary measures at the Bandaranaike International Airport for passengers returning from China.

 

 

 

–      First batch to arrive within next 48 hours

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed officials to bring back all Sri Lankans including students in Wuhan and Sichuan provinces where the coronavirus is fast spreading.

The President’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Relations, Ministry of Health, Sri Lankan Embassy in Beijing and SriLankan Airlines have joined together in this exercise.

Once the traveling restrictions imposed on Wuhan city is lifted, all Sri Lankan students there will immediately be brought back. Their cost of air travel will be borne by the government.

Measures are underway to evacuate around 150 Sri Lankan students in Chengdu in Sichuan Province within next 48 hours. A special charter flight of SriLankan Airline has been deployed for this purpose, Additional Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations Admiral Jayanath Colombage said.

The Sri Lankan mission in Beijing has received information about a group of 30 students in City of Nanning too.

Collecting information on Sri Lankan citizens in China is progress, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Relations Ravinatha Aryasinha said.

Relevant officials are constantly in touch with the students through “We Chat”, Admiral Colombage said.

Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, Chief Epidemiologist of Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health said those who are arriving from China would be subjected to quarantine at airport. Anyone suspected to be suffering from fever will be transferred to the IDH hospital. Their blood and urine samples will be tested at the Medical Research Institute for further clarification.

The Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi has instructed medical officials to take all necessary measures. Sri Lanka Medical Research Institute possess the capacity to conduct required medical checkups. Director of the Medical Research Institute Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara said equipment and chemicals would flown to the country if necessary.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared open “Ayati”, the country’s first national centre for children with disabilities in Ragama today (25).

The Ayati centre, an initiative of public-private collaboration was set up with a cost of Rs.550 million to address a burning issue prevailing in the country.

The center will provide opportunities and hope for children with disabilities to achieve their maximum potential and be fully integrated into the society. The newly-opened centre will provide multidisciplinary care for children with various disabilities.

The construction of the centre was carried out by Sri Lanka Army with the financial assistance of Hemas Holdings, MAS Holdings and Roshan – Wijerama Foundation. Hearing equipment was supplied by Rotaract Club. The Center will be managed by a Board of Trustees of the.

Daily clinics will be conducted by doctors attached to the Faculty of Medicine of University of Kelaniya. Medical assessment, speech and language therapy, audiology and occupational therapy as well as physiotherapy will be available at the centre free of charge.

Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, State Minister Tharaka Balasooriya, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Piyal de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya Prof. D. M. Semasinghe, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya and Chairperson, Ayati Trust Prof. Nilanthi de Silva, member of Ayati Trust Roshan Mahanama were also present on the occasion.