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A people's President

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has completed seven years in her exalted office as Head of State and Head of Government.

We believe it is opportune for us to record at least a passing review of her accomplishments since a comprehensive review could not be confined to a narrow editorial column.

Her role as one of the principal actors, if not the principal actor in the political stage has to be reviewed in its proper historical context.

Further, a leader should be judged not by his or her words but by his or her deeds.

Let us, therefore concentrate on real, tangible achievements during the past seven years based on a proper objective, historical approach.

The first change that occurred with the assumption of the Presidency by Madam Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga is the breath of freedom felt by the man in the street irrespective of his political, ethnic, class or religious distinction. In other words, the right to life was ensured for everybody. It is to be recalled that this was a right denied to the majority during the previous regime.

Consequently, Sri Lanka's human rights record showed a marked improvement, a fact recognized by the international community. The midnight knocks on the door; the gonibillas, the death squads and the vigilantes all disappeared.

More explicit was the space opened for freedom of expression. The freedom available was even abused so that at times it became a freedom of the wild ass.

Trade Unions, media groups and mass organizations became active and dynamic once gain. Actually, the civil society got a fresh lease of life.

Sri Lankan foreign policy that was derailed to please the West by the UNP regime was again put on track. The Euro-centric strategy was replaced by an Asian- esp. South Asian centred policy while maintaining friendly relations with all countries was put into operation.

The Sri Lankan President has emerged as one of the leading political figures in the Third world.

In the domestic scene, she has contained crony capitalism and ensured minimum standards of living for the poorest of the poor. Even the donor community has acknowledged the Samurdhi program's poverty alleviation results.

It is during the PA regime that Sri Lanka graduated from the status of a less developed nation to a Middle level developed nation. Per capita income had risen over 50 percent.

In the sphere of the economy, prudent financial management has earned the praise of even the IMF and the World Bank. Sri Lanka is one of the few nations that withstood the worst effects of the East Asian Crisis.

President Kumaratunga's achievements are most clearly distinguished in the political field, Suffice only to cite one example of how she maintained a single majority Government for six years when neighbouring India saw several changes of government.

It's no mean feat to keep intact a coalition of several parties with divergent interests. On the political field, her commitment to the solution of the national question and her sincerity in finding ways to devolve power had been acknowledged even by her foes.

• Editorial of  The Observer - Elections and ethnic conflict 9.11.2001:

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Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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