Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that this government and the cabinet of ministers are well capable of discharging duties without being a burden to the country and that of it can be confidently stated that the corruption, fraud, and destruction have been completely halted.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in a public gathering held on April 16 at the Pullman Grand Hall in Kolonnawa.
During her speech, the Prime Minister further stated:
"First of all, I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year. Now it is the time for all of us to work together to rebuild the country. I wish you all the strength and courage for achieving this collective purpose.
I take this opportunity to reflect on the past six months of period under the governance of the present government, and the transformation the public eagerly expected for. Six months is a considerable period. We came forward expecting and striving for a major transformation.
There is no doubt that everyone is well aware of the condition of the county when we assume the power. The general public has appointed us recognizing the grave situation the country was put in, and with the belief that there was no future within the old political culture. There are numerous issues that should be prioritized in solving. We need to rebuild, correct, and steer this country in the right direction and among such challenges, there are many sectors and issues that must be prioritized.
Without focusing on addressing certain key areas, we cannot do anything. Our first priority was to stabilize the economy. The main concern raised during the campaign against us was that if our government assume the power, the economy would collapse. That was the main slogan of our opponents’ campaign. They tried to portray us as a destructive and regressive group but the people of this country were not deceived. That is why we were elected to power. However, there was still some fear and doubt among the business community and international organizations that instability could have led the country for destabilization. Hence, the government’s premier goal was to eliminate the instability and bring about economic stability.
The target for this year carries in improving the arrival of tourists to Sri Lanka by three million. Investors are now beginning to invest. Many projects are now being introduced to the country. During my recent visit to Europe, I was frequently asked about the possibility of working with the Sri Lankan government and the available investment opportunities with showing their great interest and enthusiasm in starting businesses here. The main reason stands at the political change that has taken place in the country.
When you look at the current global situation, you can see that Europe and America are going through a rather turbulent period in political sector. Even in such a time, the confidence the international community has set in our country allows for leaving space some expectations. That is incredibly important and I believe that this is a victory we all have achieved together.
The reason why this upcoming election is extremely important for us is that the leadership which has already been established and provided by the president Anura Kumara has an exemplary model and is actively implementing. Following such framework, we were able to create and pass our first budget. The budget is prioritized a rapid development in the rural sector. That is why a significant amount of funding of the budget was allocated to the districts and provincial councils. There are two ways to implement projects. One way is to appoint a few corrupt individuals and spend the money quickly, where the funds end up in a few people’s personal pockets but it is not what we do. These funds have been allocated for doing what has not been done for decades.
If the leadership is not developed in a transparent manner in the rural level, then who will be accountable for the funds allocated for village development? The funds have been already allocated but the allocations which were approved according to the plan and leadership of the president, following the approval by Cabinet after a running month of parliamentary debate, must be properly spent on development work.
The money should be spent in a way that benefits the people, not line with someone’s pockets. That is why this election is especially important, because the power to spend those funds and implement the projects lies on the government. Only by handling this correctly over the next eight months, we can show a real progress in our rural sector. The systematic planning has been finalized; and now we need to ensure that we have organized the local councils properly.
I don’t personally know all the candidates contesting from the Kolonnawa seat for the local and municipal councils. However, I can confidently say that anyone appointed from the National People’s Power (NPP) cannot engage in theft as it is not solely based on individual virtue, it is governed by the discipline and the practice within our party. We are ordinary people, not different from anyone else in this country. We have flaws but there are disciplinary procedures in place if someone does not follow the proper procedures. Thereby I can guarantee that if there is any group that can ensure the proper use of funds allocations to the true development of the people of Kolonnawa, it is the NPP. I believe that assurance cannot be guaranteed by any other political party.
We have many works to do and this is just the beginning. We have made progress on the economy, but there is still much more to be done. We have revised the salaries. Prices are still high, we know that and that needs to be addressed. Our production-based economy is just beginning to grow. Investors have just started coming in. We need to create more job opportunities.
We have a clear plan to control organized crime and narcotics. When you say ’Kolonnawa’, some things come to mind. We are putting an end to that. We have already started the process. That is why you are seeing an increase in the outcry. For a long time, these underground networks and drug operations survived under political protection. Today, that protection no longer exists. If you closely examine how deeply embedded these networks are, you’ll see they have infiltrated the system. But now, we don’t provide them protection. Even within the police, those providing protection are being identified and completely stopped. This is a huge task and a greater challenge but we have taken it forward without fear as we do not allow our youth to be destroyed by drugs.
Likewise, every district, every region, is experiencing some sort of unique set of problems. The North and East have theirs, and the South has likewise. There are specific issues related to agriculture. For Kolonnawa, one of the major concerns is flooding. Floods have now become a regular part of life but we cannot continue to live that way. We need a sustainable solution and a sustainable solution does not mean doing whatever each person wants. It must be based on science, statistical data, and expert consultation. We have already begun that process of gathering information and making informed decisions.
We have only just begun. Daily I receive around 1,000 letters. Out of 900 are problems that could be solved at the village level but they come to us because they have not been addressed. When dedicating time to such issues, the bigger responsibilities might be excluded. If I do not look at them, then there are hundreds of unresolved problems out there. We can address those if we properly structure our local and municipal councils. That is another reason why this election is so important. Then we can ensure good governance from the top all the way to the grassroots."
That is why the upcoming election on May 6 is extremely important. This is a major transformation, the transformation that you expected from us. I believe we all now realize how much there is for us to do, and how much there is to change but we are ready to start on this journey.
The public gathering was attended by the State Minister of Youth Affairs, Eranga Gunasekara, the leader of the Kotikawatta-Mulleriyawa provincial council group, Mr. Dhanushka Priyadarshana, the Kolonnawa Urban Council group leader, Mr. Dhammika Wijemuni, and the member of the Colombo District Executive Committee of the NPP, Mr. Chandana Ranatunga, including the people of the Kolonnawa area.”
Prime Minister’s Media Division
