Maithripala Sirisena

“ I think all of you know undoubtedly that you have a major responsibility to eradicate bribery, corruption, waste and irregularities completely. Good governance on the other hand, requires good public relations.
According to our experience, we can’t make every person happy in the process to fulfill the needs of the public. But we should be aware of our responsibility to execute our duties truly to win the hearts of the people.
The people, with dissatisfaction complain that they have to come to government offices more than ten times to get their work done. ”

“ In such a scenario, how do we achieve a community of common destiny for Asia? How do we eliminate poverty and achieve inclusive and sustainable growth for our people? How do we make the Asian economies a catalyst for change to realize the full potential of the Asian community? ”

“ I emphasize this Parliament has upon it, the responsibility to raise Sri Lanka as a great democratic nation forging ahead.
Honorable Speaker,
The greatest wealth of our country is our human resource. I believe that the unparalleled development of it is the key to the development of our country. As the modern world is achieving great technological successes, a country can grow beyond middle-income level, only through developing its skilled workforce. ”

“ We must always display our humane nature, brotherhood and mutual respect as human beings. Setting the political differences apart, we must act as compassionate human beings. That is essential for the progress of mankind. We have often heard that the people’s silence is a main hurdle for progress.
My appeal to the good, kind and wise people of my country is, let us strive together to make our Motherland a nation second to none by working with dedication, harmony and cooperation. ”

“ Identifying the priorities of national development is a crucial step in nation building. For instance, when you’re constructing a carpeted road, it is essential to identify if construction of that carpeted road is a necessity of that town or village? If it’s the construction of a factory, is that a necessity to that town or city, is it cost efficient or the result of mere political request? When an independent private corporation decided to invest in a project they make sure it is cost-efficient, profitable and have a positive effect on the economy. ”

“ I know that the people will take the correct decision. We cannot allow the law of the jungle to supercede a good legal system. I do not hesitate to take required decisions. I will take every step possible, especially to protect and strengthen the people’s freedom and democracy and through these means eliminate corruption and fraud, and thereby protect the genuine rights of the people. ”

“ Today, we all consider this great day as a day which saw the dawn peace in our land. A day that we all respect as well as a day which opens a new chapter in our country’s development and reconciliation. As I mentioned before, all must unite for development and reconciliation in the country. We must all carry out our responsibilities together to defend the unitary status and territorial integrity on behalf of our nation and country. ”

“ Some political analysts and critics called me a villain and a traitor while I am the one who gave the leadership to the transformation in this country, and also the one who clearly established democracy and worked for that with responsibility. I ask them to taste the fruits of democracy but not destroy the democratic society created by the January 10 transformation. ”

“ I think it is the great responsibility and duty before us today is to ask where we have gone wrong, and how we could correct those errors. As much as we look at the path we have trod in the 67 years of freedom, and especially since 2009, can we be satisfied at what has been achieved after the restoration of peace. In looking at this we must be aware of the income gap that prevails and poverty in the country. I believe this is both a major problem and challenge that we face today and one that needs necessary and compulsory change. ”

“ Sri Lanka is a country that has suffered from conflict. While conflict brings destruction to a society, there are also many lessons that could be learnt during and after a conflict.
All forms of war and terrorism are a disgrace to humanity. The Preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states the manner in which such rebellions break out. Whatever their root cause is, the challenge of this era is to find ways and means to defeat such brutality against humanity. Resorting to terrorism as a means to solve grievances as well as action taken to eliminate terrorism can create problems. ”

“ Sri Lanka is committed to such cooperation and collective action within the community of Asian nations. The people of Sri Lanka on the 8th of January gave me an overwhelming mandate to take the country on a path of progress as a nation welcoming a new dawn of democracy, good governance, the rule of law, and equal opportunities for all. Towards this end, my Government is implementing an ambitious 100-day programme, inclusive of constitutional reform, to usher in a new political culture, as well as achieve lasting national reconciliation among all communities. ”

“ We have to make political changes to achieve progress to our motherland, to ensure that it is not second to any other country in the world. As we identified challenges, problems, political trends and economic challenges that we have to face during different time periods, similarly we have to identify the challenges that we have to face at present.
I offer the hands of brotherhood to all of you to join with me to build a strong Sri Lanka Freedom Party. It is not something unusual for a political party to take part in elections, win elections or to lose elections in a democratic country. ”

“ The Buddha had preached that when a leader is righteous most of the remaining things will become virtuous. As public servants we, who engaged in governance are committed fulfill a number of objectives of good governance. Thus we in the new government are truly dedicated for a real revolution in this country. We have to fully understand all the responsibilities from top to bottom. Hence, the leadership should set the example for the others to follow. Primarily, from the Secretary to the President and Ministry Secretaries should be able to give that example for a good governance. ”

“ Therefore, my government will take speedy actions to put the marine science in to the practice in large scale for the development of our country.
As all of you aware, within this modern world order, a government cannot fulfil every aspiration of the people. We need to strengthen our public sector, private sector, as well as civil society in order to accomplish the needs of the people. When empowering the private sector, it is necessary to provide more facilities to local industries. ”

“ I have no problem with those who criticize me. In a country with democracy, criticism is essential. Freedom of press is essential. I stand by that at all times.
The clause on media in the 19th amendment was removed by me. I have done my duty. And I plan to continue so. I must state very clearly that in the upcoming election I have no association with Mahinda Rajapaksa. ”

“ The 21st century is Asia’s century. The unprecedented economic growth in Asia during the past few decades has shifted the centre of gravity of the global economy from the West to the East. As Asian economies have continued to grow exponentially, they have also become more complex and more integrated with each other and with the rest of the world, reflecting the reality of inter-dependence and globalization of the present day. Today, Asian enterprise is a key driver in global economic development. ”

“ However, the biggest challenge we face today, is that of bringing together the minds of the people of the North and South, and through a process of reconciliation bring about co-existence and national understanding, and thus take our great Motherland forward as a land rich in human affection and understanding.
In so moving forward, there are many responsibilities before us. We need to ask ourselves whether we can truly and honestly be satisfied with what we have achieved, as we celebrate this 67th anniversary of Independence. ”

“ While fulfilling the responsibility given by the people to us, it is the duty of all of us to raise our motherland to a position of greatness in the world by using knowledge, understanding, wisdom and experience. ”

“ Therefore, in order to ensure that we build the country that protects the people’s freedom, democracy, promotes civilized society and helps build a disciplined country, it is my belief that every one of you will vote to adopt the 19th Amendment. I call on you to use your valuable vote for this and be a partner in firmly establishing freedom and democracy in this country. ”

“ Before the end of the tenure of this parliament, our children and grandchildren will start going to preschool with an ipad, just as we brought the slate to the school. I like to tell you that the people have elected you as lawmakers in an era of transformation like this. Accordingly, all of us have the challenge to prepare this country for that new era to be dawned and to fulfill the ambitions of that new generation with future in mind, while protecting the shared values of our culture which binds us as the Sri Lanka nation. ”

“ Establishing a broad friendship with all nations and organizations of the world, we could obtain their cooperation for our task of developing our country and secure the future of our people. As a Buddhist country while striving to uplift Buddhism, the government will also take steps to ensure the religious rights and freedom of all religions, Hindu, Islam, Christian and other religions. Ethnic and religious reconciliation will be our priority. We will strive to build a disciplined society rich in cultural and moral values where all could live in harmony irrespective of differences. ”

“ When we speak of leaving the traditional economy behind and seeking to aspire to an innovative-production based economy we must also aspire to develop a skilled human resource base. A graduate having to picket on the streets due unemployment must not be the reality in an innovation-based productive economy. When a student graduate the economic pattern created through skills development and market economy, the industry must be awaiting them in order for an innovation-based production economy to be successful. ”

“ In speaking of our national economy, as an agricultural country, we should raise national agricultural standards by providing scientific knowledge from the advances in the new technological world, and through proper guidance and study bring new life to our national agriculture. We must strengthen our national economy. It is the commitment of the government to ensure development of the various sectors of our economy, through new technology and industrialization ”

“ As I stated earlier when we are taking action against corruption and all these threats to society, there are people who like the slaves in America who were against the abolishing of slavery and said they preferred to remain as slaves, who seem to prefer a corrupt system and therefore mislead the public when action is taken to eliminate corruption and fraud. ”

“ Whenever the two-party system was disrupted the country’s democracy and peace hit a crisis. I’m not a soothsayer, or an astrologer, but anyone with an understanding of our country’s political history knows this.
Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only President in our history to contest for an election and be defeated. Other President respectfully left office after their two terms. Mahinda Rajapaksa, in that sense was able to break a record as the first defeated President.
If you look at an individual of any office in a country, it is through their history that we can predict a judgment of their future. ”

“ My understanding of sustainable development is not to have sectorally or group-wise isolated development, but to have an inclusive model of development that is capable of uplifting development standards globally. ”

“ As one of the first post-colonial democracies in the world that actively worked towards Asian-African solidarity, South-South cooperation and Non Alignment, Sri Lanka’s engagement with Asian solidarity and cooperation has a long and proud history. While we walk the middle path in our foreign policy, we also extend our hand of friendship to all nations, and renew our engagement with the international community. We will continue to nurture our special friendship with countries in our Asian neighbourhood. ”

“ The world is now aware that we cannot achieve a sustainable development by going against the environment. The Buddhist Philosophy which enriched our country for the past 2500 years, demonstrates how we can achieve happiness and prosperity by following the Middle Path while preserving the environment. I consider the Buddhist economic principles that we have with us is a great wealth for us when we step into the modern world. ”

“ Because of that, in our election manifesto, we have said that we will build a new country with good governance. I think you’ll know better than me what is defined scope for good governance. All of you have a major responsibility and obligation when implementing good governance without limiting it to a mere word. ”

“ The public service eroded with corruption will be transformed into an efficient service and an environment conducive for the public servants to do their duty with satisfaction will be created. Bribery, corruption and malpractices in the process of development will be eliminated and the police will be made an unbiased and independent service. At the same time we will take steps to support the private sector which supports the economies of more than five million of our people. ”

“ Following a path of social democracy, Sri Lanka has succeeded in achieving high levels in the Human Development Index, even during the years of conflict. This success is testimony to our commitment for achieving the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.
Mr. President,
Development should result in the empowerment of women and youth and assure security for children. Frustration in youth usually leads to conflict. Nevertheless, Youth is the driving force for sustainable development. ”

“ Don’t we have to hand over this country to the future generation as a country in which people can obtain maximum satisfaction with minimum necessary consumption levels and as a country where its people are prosperous, contended, and reconciled and not as a country that consumes most goods and services in the world? ”

“ Ordinary people in the country would not speak freely. Members of the armed forces, the lower ranks of the police could also not speak freely on the telephone. None of them had the freedom to speak freely by telephone.
In the past 3 months this freedom has been restored and strengthened. This was similar with media freedom, too. I recall how prior to January 8 those who yielded political power spoke to the heads of media institutions, news directors and news editors. That included intimidation, threats and mental pressure. Today, the media is free of all this. ”

“ We will clearly carry out our task of moving forward as an awakened nation, by obtaining the cooperation of all through our foreign policy of the middle path, and as a country that acts in keeping with the United Nations Charter, and its conventions. ”

“ But we have seen in various countries, faced with national challenges, the main political parties come together with consensus to form alliance governments, casting aside their political differences. As soon as Apartheid was ended in South Africa, the main political parties of that country established a consensual government to eradicate the racist divisions and to achieve a rapid development for the country. I strongly believe that, the best time for Sri Lanka to enter a government of consensus was the very moment that the country entered a post-war era. ”

“ As we learn from the Buddhist ethos prevalent in Sri Lanka, I recognize there are three kinds of human conflicts.
The first is the conflict between the human being and nature. We are constantly engaged in this conflict in order to enjoy material comforts in life. As a result, modern human beings seek to exploit natural resources extensively in the name of development. ”

“ As we look back at these 67 years of freedom, the solution to our needs does not lie in the mutual pointing of fingers at each other. It is my belief that all political parties, all political leaders who have governed this country in the past 67 years, should look back at themselves and truly study and understand one’s duties and responsibilities, and look towards the future in the discharge of such responsibilities. ”

“ Hence, my government gives its top priority to skills development and empowering the Sri Lankan workforce to be fit for any requirement of the local and international market.
I should remind you that the 21st Century is the century of Asia. It is our fortune that we are geographically situated in a position which helps us to get benefits of the economic opportunities generated in a context where Asia is emerging as the hub of the world economy. ”

“ New challenges and new social problems will emerge inevitably within the world in keeping with its changes day to day. We must be ready to face these challenges with a new vision, while maintaining our good values.
Already Sri Lanka is a country with a high level of drug consumption. I must emphasize that if we fail to protect our children from this drug menace, none of our future objectives will be successful. Drug use is not only a health issue any more, but it is also a social problem of our country. ”

“ Today, we are living in a globalized new world. In that context, every country in the world is important to us. There are many things we can learn from them and they can learn from us. As a result of that, openness and friendship with all will remain as the foundation of our foreign policy. I have also previously mentioned that we have entered into the Century of Asia. Accordingly, I will state that my Government will pay more attention towards an Asia-centric middle-path foreign policy. ”

“ It is my great pleasure to offer you the congratulations of the people of Sri Lanka and welcome you to the new parliament. You are the democratically elected representatives of the people and you have been elected in the most peaceful election held in the history of our country. ”