Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa tells new parliament 19th Amendment to be abolished and that electoral law will be changed

Delivering the Policy Statement of the new government at the ceremonial sitting of Sri Lanka’s new Parliament last week, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that as people have given him and his brother’s government a mandate, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution will be abolished to pave way for a new Constitution.

He also said that a new constitution that suits the country giving prominence to ‘one country and one law’ will be introduced. He also said that the present electoral system will also be changed with the new constitution.

During the Presidential Election held last November, over 6.9 million people gave me a decisive mandate, placing a very high confidence in me. So far through my actions, I have proved that I will uphold the promise that I will not violate the trust they placed in me.

The period between the Presidential Election and the Parliamentary Election has been very challenging for us. What we inherited was an economy that had collapsed. Since we did not have a majority in Parliament we were compelled to function with a minority government. In addition, we had to face the COVID-19 pandemic that disabled the entire world during that period. At a time when even the most powerful countries in the world were left helpless in the wake of COVID –19 catastrophe, we were able to successfully face the challenge. Even foreign nations praised our efforts to prevent the spreading of the pandemic.

He said that he historic mandate received by his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party has proven that people are impressed with the way we have governed the country during the past 9 months despite various obstacles.

“People appreciate the change taking place in the political culture of this country”, he said.

While ensuring priority for Buddhism, it is now clear to the people that freedom of any citizen to practice the religion of his or her choice is better secured.

The Government has paid special attention to the protection of national heritage, culture and our identity as well as the protection and promotion of performing arts and folk arts.

We are working towards a significant transformation of the political culture of this country.

We also took measures to build a production economy. Paddy farmers were given a higher guaranteed price for their products. People were encouraged to re-cultivate abandoned lands throughout the country.

Through all these, we provided a new lease of life to the agricultural sector in this country.

After we assumed office, we provided tax concessions targeting local entrepreneurs. Interest rates were brought down to encourage businesses. Competitive imports were restricted in order to protect local entrepreneurs and industrialists.

It is clear that people enthusiastically supported us in this election due to the trust we have been able to build in them in this manner. We will continue to serve the people in a manner that affirms this trust.It should always be remembered that the prime responsibility of a people’s representative is to serve the public. We will be sensitive to fulfilling the needs of the people, keeping in mind that all these positions are responsibilities and not privileges.