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Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Monday, 10 September 2018 01:40 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday (8 September) said there was unnecessary concern in the country regarding the presidential election and further said that even though some had made statements that there would be a presidential election early, he was not ready to hold a presidential election before its due date.
President Sirisena also pointed out that he alone could decide on when such an election was held.
He made these remarks while addressing the SLFP Nivitigala Bala Mandala meeting held at the Nivitigala public fair premises.
The President stated that if the SLPP and UNP overestimated their political power that was a mistake and said that whatever value given by themselves to their parties no one could form a government without the support of the SLFP.
Political parties that centred on individuals lasted temporarily and the country needed political movements with a clear vision, the President pointed out. He stated that the SLFP, which had a proper vision for the country, was now moving forward successfully while strengthening its organisational structures.
The President went on to state that according to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution after the next presidential election the powers of the President would be limited and the key position of the government would be the post of the Prime Minister and the discussion among all within the political field should be over selecting a better Prime Minister for the country but not about the next presidential election. “Even though whatever allegations were levelled against me by my political opponents, I will continue to fulfill the duties toward the country, much more than anyone has done in the past,” he said.
He also said that he created an environment where a common man could reach the highest level while strengthening democracy and vesting the superior powers of the Executive Presidency in the Parliament and no other leader in the world did so.
President Sirisena said that the true Bandaranaike policy and the policy of the SLPF was that and the country always needed those policies.
The President said that even though the main allegation against the SLFP was that it joined with the UNP, it did so to fulfill some tasks that could not be fulfilled by the previous government and the President recalled that today the Government was able to win the support of the international community and that cooperation was now being used for the benefit of the country.
The President said that he was scheduled to address the UN Assembly on 24 September and he is expected to make a new statement before the Assembly to free the security forces of the allegations levelled against them.
Speaking about the development activities within the Ratnapura District, the President said that he would instruct the relevant authorities and the Police to allow the people to engage in gem mining using kooda leaf sacks in rivers and canals in the area from this week.
The President, felicitating 10 senior members of the SLFP from the Ratnapura District, presented awards to them for their long-time contribution for the development of the SLFP.
Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva and Vijith Wijayamuni Zoysa, State Minister Weerakumara Disanayake, Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Nivitigala SLFP organiser Miyuru Bhashitha Liyanage, Jagath Pushpakumara, Athula Kumara Rahubadda and many other SLFP activists participated in the occasion.
Meanwhile, the President also opened the Nivitigala SLFP office.
