Those who accomplished the November revolution can also defeat counter-revolution - President

President Maithripala Sirisena says that the anti-revolution should also be won as the revolution and those who accomplished the feat last November can also defeat those against the revolution.

“We should make an attempt on what we should do at present and for what we do for the future by not forgetting the memories of November Revolution,” the President said.

The President made this observation at the launch of the book “The Great November Revolution” (“Shreshta November Viplavaya”) written by Dinesh Weerakkody.

Dinesh Weerakkody launched his book on last year’s November Revolution Tuesday night at the BMICH in Colombo. A large group including President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as well as leaders who shouldered the November Revolution graced the occasion.

A minute’s silence was observed in memory of the Late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera who shouldered the task of January 08th political change, before the launch of the book. The author Dinesh Weerakkody presented copies of the book to the President, the Prime Minister and the invitees.

President Sirisena recalling those who supported, committed and sacrificed their lives for the November Revolution went on to elaborate on “our indebtedness to those great revolutionaries even today.” He also pointed out that everybody should act with an understanding of the challenges and obstacles which will arise in the future.

The history of the path that led to the change that took place on January 08th from the time Maithripala Sirisena was nominated as the Common Presidential candidate in last November and information on the challenges the President and the Prime Minister faced in this battle are detailed in Weerakkody’s book.

“Politics is a complex, problematic and a challenging task. Those who are engaged in politics are not dead objects but are living human beings. Therefore, creating a government, continuing it and facing the future should be done thoughtfully,” the President said.

Expressing views at the ceremony, President Maithripala Sirisena said that a revolution had been done. Now it is important for those who contributed to the revolution to identify the task that should be discharged for the counter revolution.

As such the President said that they believe that those who were engaged in the revolution could defeat the counter revolution. Everyone believes that establishing an administration, maintaining it and facing the future should be done with awareness. He stressed the need to identify and select the future challenges and sort out the work that should be discharged.

Addressing the function, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe mentioned that although it was easy to gain power, it is more difficult to safeguard it. He assured that the aspirations of the people would be fulfilled without returning to the past.

The Prime Minister said that they took over to meet the aspirations of the people. The challenge they confront is whether they should or not discharge their task. Taking over power is easy but it is not so easy to safeguard it. Everyone would engage in their work according to their experiences. The Prime Minister added that it is now up to them how they face the new world.