A new president

People of Sri Lanka should elect a president who will:

1. Place the welfare of the people before self, change the constitution and do away with executive presidency as absolute power usually corrupts absolutely. The country should revert to parliamentary democracy as in India, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. 

2. Restore and uphold the absolute independence of the judiciary with no interference from politicians as that is the foundation of true democracy. 

3. Educate politicians to respect and obey the laws of the land just as their electors have to. 

4. Strive to eliminate all forms of political corruption including abuse of position and power, bribery, nepotism and political vengeance.

5. Enforce strictly and with no exception declaration of assets by politicians before entering parliament.

6. Refrain from indulgence in luxury motor vehicles, luxurious accommodation and lavish entertainment at public expense because hundreds of thousands of citizens eke out a mere existence with no employment, poor housing and poor nutrition. 

7. Endeavour to improve the plight of the poor and the weak. A nation is truly great only if it cares for the welfare of its weakest citizens. 

8. Put an end to the national disgrace of Sri Lankan women working in the Middle East in virtual slavery.

Will Sri Lanka ever get a great statesman of the calibre of the late Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore who transformed that tiny island nation from its post-war third world status to the great country that it is today? 

W.Y. Rambukwelle (Dual Citizen), 

169 Don Street 

Invercargill 9810

New Zealand.