Join Govt to ensure Lanka's prosperity

President tells all political forces at SLFP Convention

Uditha KUMARASINGHE

MAHARAGAMA: President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday invited all political forces seeking a better future for Sri Lanka to join him and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to ensure prosperity for the masses.

Addressing the 16th National Convention of the SLFP, President Rajapaksa said the Executive Power of the Presidency, the legislative power of Parliament and the executive power of the local bodies will be harnessed to create a better environment, a better tomorrow and a better country for posterity.

"Our party has become the most powerful political party today, whilst completing 50 years since the tremendous victory of 1956," he said.

The President said: "I would like to request all those political forces who wish a better future for Sri Lanka, to join and work with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in the quest of greener pastures. I am determined to convert our party to be a suitable forum for all the progressive parties scattered from Dondra Head to Point Pedro to engage in politics, with pride and honour."

He said: "The Sri Lanka Freedom Party and my political career are in fact inseparable and bound together.

It is a strange coincidence that I contested the Presidential Election on the ticket of the alliance headed by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, and became the President of this country on my 60th birthday.

Incidentally, last night I was pondering over my past political career and of the long journey of our party. I entered politics in the 1960s at a vibrant young age, with a political legacy bequeathed by my late father.

Whilst working as the youngest Member in Parliament, I had the privilege of observing, how several political giants worked for the well-being of the masses in this country.

In fact the exemplary manner, the first woman Prime Minister of the world, the late Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike served the country at that time, left an indelible impression in my mind.

At the same time great leaders such as Dr. S. A. Wickramasinghe and Dr. N. M. Perera immensely enlightened me and I am proud to say today that I joined the progressive lot by following their footsteps. I am really proud of it now.

I was so inspired by them and from thereon I had a great desire to lead the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in future, so that I too may serve our people in like manner.

Today we are holding this convention at a very important and historic moment. It was exactly 50 years ago that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party was enthroned as the party of the masses in 1956, to be exact in the very month of April.

Today once again our party has come forward to evolve a new era. Four months ago an initial step was taken to achieve that noble task in the course of the last Presidential Election.

Yet another step was taken at the recent local polls. This is a tremendous victory. If any one of you makes a comparison between the victory in 1956 and the one we enjoyed recently, I have no reasons to oppose it.

I also made the election an opportunity, to prove that even the man of village at grass roots level who is a member of the party could one day, come to the helm of it.

Except 11 electorates, in all others, the President or the Vice-President was appointed on the order of preferential votes polled. A party should have discipline.

So, after the results of this election I have taken several crucial decisions to maintain it. The doors of our party should be kept open allowing any person of good standing to become the leader of the party.

I do not think that anybody will object to such a course of action. Don't think that this party is the legacy of the Bandaranaike clan or that of Rajapaksas.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is not the second or the third political force in this country. Our party is invariably a force in the forefront.

However, I should state that the emblem 'hand' and the colour 'blue' have gone to oblivion and most of the people have forgotten them today. Some of them seem to be unaware that there was a party called the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

Therefore, I have decided to build a renewed Sri Lanka Freedom Party to suit the new century retaining its past dignity and glory.

During the campaign of the last local polls I stressed the point that those who contested it would be able to go up to the point of becoming the President of this country and the doors would be fully open to them.

The SLFP is not a party which retards the forward march of future leaders, but one which moulds the leaders of the future. Our party never intends to create a war situation. We are dedicated to peace.

The SLFP should be a party comprising enlightened politicians, community leaders and social workers who would be able to show the world an exemplary political culture. The SLFP is adept in forming governments.

Within a very short time the SLFP will be the party which had ruled the country for the longest period.

The aim of our party should be to take the country forward in a progressive manner, before the world. It should also be a party developing social democracy efficiently with responsibility and discipline. Founders of our party were engaged in politics with dignity.

Therefore it is a pride to introduce oneself as a member of that party. Our determination should be to once again bring that dignity and the respect into the party.

Our party has become the most powerful political party today, whilst completing 50 years since the tremendous victory of 1956. We are strong today as we possess the legislative power in Parliament and the Executive Power of the Presidency along with the executive power of the local bodies.

This entire power should be utilized for the future well-being of our country and to create a better environment, a better tomorrow and a better country for posterity.

On this memorable occasion I would like to request all those political forces who wish a better future for Sri Lanka, to join and work with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in the quest of greener pastures.

I am determined to convert our party to be a suitable forum for all the progressive parties scattered from Dondra Head to Point Pedro to engage in politics, with pride and honour.

In 1956 our party was strengthened with the social segments of the Sanga, Veda, Guru, Govi, Kamkaru popularly known as the Pancha Maha Balavegaya, representing the local culture and our heritage at large.

New forces are emerging in the present era. In the circumstances our responsibility is to blend our heritage with such new forces.

An advanced political party is a blessing to any country. The SLFP and the dignity of our country are one and the same. Our party could be termed as a flowing stream and not a stagnant pool. It is moving forward.

My conviction is that you all will extend your cooperation to make our party one, which represents the social, cultural and political forward march, and hopes and aspirations of the entire population.

"The SLFP always closely worked with country's progressive parties. Late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike together with Communist and Samasamaja parties took the country forward. Former President Kumaratunga in collaboration with JVP and other constituent parties of the UPFA took the country forward.

I will also take the country forward giving the leadership to the SLFP together with nearly 28 constituent paries who have rallied round the UPFA Government.

It is our responsibility to successfully face the challenge of rebuilding the country to restore honourable peace which will enable all communities to live in harmony without any fear.

"All our partymen have the strength of safeguard both the party and this Government formed them by defeating all opposing forces."