Maithripala Sirisena

“ The election manifesto I brought forth, as all of you clearly remember, was based on a compassionate form of governance. Even prior to the manifesto, there were significant reasons for people to select me as their common candidate.
During the 49 years of my political career, I have served the people as a Member of the Parliament, a Deputy Minister and also a Minister. During those 49 years, I believe that the People had an understanding of me as a person who respects and protects freedom and democracy, and as a person who does not engage in corruption or the abuse of powers. ”

“ Mahinda Rajapaksa contests for the election, he must satisfy three main requirements. One is that I told if the Mahinda Rajapksa contest for the general elections, the UPFA would not be able to get the votes of Tamil and Muslim Communities.
Subsequent to that I said, the confidence placed in me by the people in this country for reinstating good governance and you would not have a place in that. The new political trend in the world which is against corruption and abuse of entrusted power by the leaders and misplacing the trust placed in them by the people. ”

“ Mahinda Rajapaksa offered me the leadership, he began to pull my leg after two weeks. I made a huge effort to build the SLFP as a party without a family favoritism by freeing the party from the people engaged in corruption and fraud, as well as the opportunists, robbers of state property and people who misuse power.
In one hand I have lead the government by appointing a Prime Minister who has 47 members in Parliament. On the other hand I have to change constitution as well. For all these, the majority of votes in Parliament were required. ”

“ You are not fulfilled the qualifications for good governance, I said. On the other side, the young generation will not cast their vote for you due to the faults, dishonesty, and corruption done under your regime, especially because of the deeds of the Rajapaksa family dynasty. So, I said, don’t push this party to lose at the election by contesting. That meeting concluded without any result.
During that period, we worked as a Government and a Parliament. The election came very close to us. We introduced the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. ”

“ The Bills of the National Audit and Right to Information and that of the 20A were finally drafted but those who supported the 19A were reluctant to support the others. The Importance of these Acts cannot be undermined as we know for example how corrupted the tender procedures in this country still remains, as I have been pointing out for the last decade. The Audit Act would help us bring about a proper tender system and introduce better financial management and financial discipline to the country. ”