Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Monday, 5 December 2022 01:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday called on lawyers to support nation building and unity saying “if all the-at-Law join hands all the major problems could be put behind us”.
Speaking at a felicitation ceremony on completing 50 years at Bar, Wickremesinghe said ethnic, religious issues and other genuine concerns of the people could be put behind the past to prevent a break up of unity and integrity of the State by the 75th Independence Anniversary of Sri Lanka.
“As discussed by the Members of Parliament, if the Attorneys-at-Law in the country would assist in this process, this task could be achieved,” President emphasised.
“If all the Attorneys-at-Law join hands, all the major problems could be put behind us and all communities could come together as children of one mother as the country celebrates its 75th Anniversary of Independence next year,” the President said.
He added that it would also give all the opportunity to understand and appreciate each other’s views and prepare a Constitution which would enshrine the freedoms the people enjoy but also allow for constitutional governance.
President said apart from the economic challenge, there is a greater challenge, where the younger generation is questioning the entire system. He added that now the country has the option of letting the wounds of the past heal or letting it grow further.
The Parliamentarians have taken a decision to see how best to resolve the ethnic differences and work towards reconciliation, issues of religious differences and all the other genuine concerns of the people, without breaking up the integrity and unity of the State.
President Wickremesinghe and First Lady Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe were received at this occasion by President’s Counsel Ronald Perera. President’s Counsels Tilak Marapana Faiz Mustafa also spoke at the event. President’s Counsel Ronald Perera delivered the welcome speech and Attorney-at-Law Kushan de Alvis made the vote of thanks.
President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva said that everyone felicitates President Wickremesinghe for several reasons, mainly for the President has never, ever worked for self-promotion but worked for the benefit of the party, the strengthening of Parliament and its supremacy, and for the country.
Secondly, he is well-read and a man of vision. “It is essential to have a visionary as a leader to avoid narrow goals and put the country back into its proper perspective. Thirdly, he is simple, and finally and most importantly, he has remained totally honest and there has not been any allegation of personal corruption against him.”
President’s Counsel Ronald C. Perera said that Wickremesinghe, even before he became President had already introduced many laws and enactments for the betterment of the people. He also said that Wickremesinghe, as the President of Sri Lanka, had inherited a thankless job.
“As the President eloquently said, he had got the Titanic after it hit the iceberg. The situation in the country on 12 July this year when he actually completed 50 years at the bar, is a testimony to that because at that time you could not have any gathering, let alone a celebration while attempting to fix many problems in Sri Lanka,” Perera added.
President Counsel Faiz Mustafa said that the Members of the Parliament know to choose the correct man for the correct job in times of crisis. He also said that apparently, President Wickremesinghe is the only choice people made then and that everyone was confident he is the best man to bat for us.
“Now, he has been sent back at a very, very crucial time. In fact, the best in him comes out in times of crisis,” Mustafa added.
President’s Counsel Tilak Marapana said President Wickremesinghe didn’t make false promises, nor compromised principles by arousing communal feelings. He didn’t play to the gallery, and he did not engage in attacks. He was a solid man, relying solely on his past performance, ability and dedication.
In 2001 and 2015, when he was the Prime Minister, on both occasions, he was able to separate an ailing economy, which he had inherited on both occasions with his knowledge of the economy, his economic vision and the tight fiscal policy, he was able to turn around a negative economy of a positive economy in 2003.
