Devolution of power is not for benefit of politicians but for the public: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said the devolution of power should be used to fulfil the needs of the people while strengthening them, but not for the benefit of politicians.

The President further stated that the aim of power devolution was to create an environment to provide equal development benefits to all and create a just society for all to enjoy equal facilities. 

He made these remarks while addressing the closing ceremony of the Vavuniya District’s Nila Mehewara President’s People Service National Programme, held at the Saivapragasa Ladies’ College in Vavuniya on 21 October.

President Sirisena said that the present Government was committed to the developmental and political reforms needed for the country and said that there were various objections when the Government implemented its process in this regard. 

President visits Vidya’s family

President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday visited the family of Vidya, the schoolgirl who was raped and murdered in Jaffna.

Sirisena visited them in response to a request made by Vidya’s mother. The President looked into the wellbeing of Vidya’s family. He promised all support for the family, including assistance for the education of Vidya’s elder sister.

Vidya’s mother expressed her gratitude to the President for his intervention to expedite the legal process against the perpetrators in her daughter’s case.

He also emphasised that all those who opposed the country’s political reforms must understand the reality of these issues that have arisen today in the country, and that all of them would be responsible for the issues that would arise in the future by not addressing these issues today.

The President said that any of those people who opposed this process have no proposal with them to provide a solution to the issues and requested them to provide their proposals regarding the political reforms needed in the country.

Furthermore, a draft constitution has not yet been prepared, the President said, adding that the report has been compiled taking into the consideration the ideas and suggestions of all parties and submitted to Parliament leaving room to make amendments and to hold a debate. It clearly protects the unitary status of the country and the rightful place of Buddhism as well as making mention of a society where all communities in the country can live in harmony. 

The President has said that some people were trying to mislead the public by pointing out the things that were not mentioned in that report while some newspapers and media outlets were publishing false news misleading the public and requested all of them to fulfil their respective duties understanding their responsibilities towards the country. 

The ‘Nila Mehewara’ program, which is being implemented under the guidance of the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide solutions to the issues of the people, has completed 63 regional programs and the third national program was held in the Vavuniya District.

Many programs were held under the President’s patronage, including marking the distribution  of 5,000 land title deeds to people who do not have permanent  title deeds in the Vavuniya District, awarding gifts to students who have obtained high marks at this year’s year five scholarship examination, the distribution of coconut saplings through the Coconut Development Board under the National Food Production program and the donation of two water bowsers to provide drinking water to people affected by dry weather conditions.

Later, the President visited the premises where the Nila Mehewara program was held and paid his attention to the issues presented by the people there.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Home Affairs Vajira Abeywardena, Ministers Gayantha Karunathilaka, S.B. Nawinna and Rishad Bathiudeen, State Minister Vijayakala Maheshwaran, the Governor of the Northern Province Reginald Cooray, parliamentarians K. Kader Masthan, A.M. Sumanthiran, Selvam Adaikalanathan, District Secretary M.B.R. Pushpakumara, public servants and many others were present at this occasion.