Sirisena says first president to declare assets

Calls on all politicians and officials to work together to deliver public expectations

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said he is the only President to have declared assets publicly and suggested politicians and government officers follow the law to ensure good governance.

“If the politicians and government officers openly fulfill their responsibility no problem will arise. That example should come from the top,” he said.

The President was speaking at a ceremony held to inaugurate the Right to Information (RTI) Act at Temple Trees.

“There was no demand for me to present my asset statement. But I did it over the past two years,” he added.

The President recalled that he issued his asset statement to journalists as per their request, after presenting it to the Election Commissioner as the Common Candidate.

“The people of this country elected this government on 8 January 2015 to change a government which went beyond its limits, engaging in fraud, corruption and irregularity. The people elected the new government expecting it not to act like the former government. The allegations against the previous government should not be directed to the new government,” he said.

Right to Information (RTI) Sri Lanka website being launched by President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday. Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka (second from left) and Deputy Minister Karunarathna Paranawithana (right) look on

- Pic by Ruwan Walpola

“When there is a program underway to build the country, cordiality and cooperation between politicians and government officers is important. It acts as a strong chain to build the country”, the President further said.

“Politicians and government officers should move away from the culture they have been used to and fulfill their responsibility to the country with transparency,” he added.

“Today there are many protests on roads in Colombo. They are misusing the democratic freedoms in this country. The Government took actions to give the service pension to the disabled war heroes who did not complete 12 years. This benefit had never been given to them before. Even after the Government has already done this, another group is protesting on the road.”

The official RTI website www.rti.gov.lk was also launched by the President at the occasion.

Ministers Gayantha Karunathilaka, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Vajira Abeywardena, Chandrani Bandara, Deputy Ministers Karu Paranavitana, Ranjan Ramanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media, Nimal Bopage, Director General of the Government Information Department Ranga Kalansuriya, and Advisor to the Minister for the Right to Information Act Piyatissa Ranansinghe also took part in the event.