A new Sri Lanka

“I am ready to steer my country learning what should be learnt from history”

President Mahinda Rajapaksa after being sworn in as President of Sri Lanka on 19th November 2005:

I am ready to steer my country learning what should be learnt from history. I understand that it is my duty to steer the country forward rectifying our mistakes in the past and defending our achievements. But I am no slave of history. I want to steer the country along a new path. I am a new leader. I will lead a new Government, a new Cabinet of Ministers, a new policy, a new Sri Lanka, a new citizenry. I have decided to bring before Parliament new Budget proposals based on the Mahinda Chintanaya we presented to the people. I believe it is necessary to begin my term of office with the people’s confidence in me intact. I assure all Sri Lankans that I will proceed in governance protecting parliamentary democracy at its best.

“Our policy is to build an entirely new Sri Lanka”

Policy statement at the opening of the new session of Parliament on 25th November 2006:

Our overall objective in the Presidential election was to ensure the victory of our policy. Today the majority of people in this country have endorsed that policy.

It has emerged victorious by the power of universal franchise, which is a part of people’s sovereignty. It is to protect the country without dividing this country.

It is to free this land from poverty, underdevelopment and backwardness and build this country.

Our policy is to build an entirely new Sri Lanka.

I am preparing to make before the House the official statement making this policy - which until now was only an election manifesto - this country’s public policy.

“We have on no occasion fled in the face of challenges”

58th Anniversary of Independence celebration’s on 04th February 2006

Whatever the manner we obtained independence in 1948, I do not believe that in the period since the obtaining of independence we have been able to use all our strengths and resources to best effect to justify the struggles that went before.

However, I state with pride that we have on no occasion fled in the face of challenges.

The true story that stands out in our history is that on every occasion when we were united we emerged victorious.

We are by nature a peaceful nation and people.

The culture of our lives has been nourished by the teachings of Buddhism, Hinduism, and other religions that flourish in our land, and whenever there were challenges before us we faced them with courage.

“The Media should serve the broader interests of the people at large, instead of serving the vested interests of particular groups”

Award ceremony of the UNESCO - Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize held in connection with World Press Freedom Day 2006 on 03rd May 2006 at the BMICH-Colombo.

In functioning democracies, the people are the masters and the elected governments are their servants or trustees. An important function of the media is to ensure that the servants don’t try to become masters and transform the masters into servants.

It is the responsibility of a free press to keep the people informed about the conduct of their trustees, - the elected governments and their officers. It has always been my conviction that if a person has chosen the career of a public officer or politician, he or she must be ready to face the glare of the spotlight at all times. Media freedom therefore is an important instrument for the protection of democracy, and an insurance against a possible drift towards authoritarian rule. While this is so, we must also remember that the press is also vulnerable to manipulation and temptation. It can be turned in the direction of serving the vested interests of particular groups, instead of serving the broader interests of the people at large.

This is no doubt a problem. But I do not believe that censorship is the answer to it, except perhaps in the circumstances of a threat to national security as required by a democracy.

“The solution we offer should be one that offers an immediate resolution to the ones affected. It is not enough to keep people waiting in fear for an uncertain future”.

First joint meeting of All Party Representative Committee and Panel Experts on 11th July 2006:

Any solution must be seen to be good and reasonable enough to address the concerns for which great suffering has been endured. Large numbers have sacrificed their lives; lives of many others have been devastated and resulted in displacement of family units who have migrated to safer countries to avoid conflict.

Many a mother’s tears have flowed over the lifeless body of a child killed in this needless conflict.

It therefore behoves particularly on the majority community to be proactive in striving for peace and there must be a demonstration of a well stretched hand of accommodation.

Any solution must therefore address these expectations as well. The role of the All Party Representative Committee as well as, its Panel of Experts is to fashion creative options that satisfy the minimum expectations that I had enumerated earlier as well as provide a comprehensive approach to the resolution of the national question.

I have invited the LTTE to engage itself on this process. It is only by doing so that the aspirations of the Tamil people can be addressed, not through streams of blood and shattered limbs.

“Democracy, equity and prosperity is our clarion call”

The 61st session of the UN General Assembly on 20th September 2006

Having been a human rights campaigner at the grass roots level throughout my political life, it was natural that my new government should be committed to carrying the message of democracy to all corners of our multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious country. Democracy, equity and prosperity is our clarion call.

In addition, my country has been influenced by the core Buddhist values of non-violence, loving kindness, compassion, equanimity and mindfulness. With this sense of direction, our Government committed itself “Towards a New Sri Lanka” - guided by a vision of peace; where every Sri Lankan citizen may live with dignity and self-respect; in freedom and without fear; free of want; and where every child may enjoy childhood and grow up with hope and expectation.

“We need not sell this country in order to build it”

“Deyata Kirula” (crowning the people) celebrations at Weerawila on 19th November 2006

My dear friends, in doing all these we have not sacrificed any of our national assets or any State institution. We have proved within one year that we need not sell this country in order to build it. No should now tell us that we have to sell our national assets to build the country. This is the biggest victory of the Mahinda Chintanaya to date.

“My effort is to build a peaceful Sri Lanka where the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people can live as brothers”

A special address to the Nation on 06th December2006:

Although Sri Lanka is geographically small, and the Sri Lankan nation is numerically small, throughout history we have been regarded with pride and respect in the world. However, it is also a fact that the greatness our nation had over the centuries has been challenged by the threats it faced from the latter part of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s.

The countrywide movement of violence by the LTTE that began in 1975 with assassination of Mr. Alfred Duraiyappah, the distinguished Mayor of Jaffna and great humanist who stood resolutely for Sinhala, Tamil unity, has by now brought immeasurable humiliation, damage and discredit to the nation, in a manner that is both serious and gravely criminal.

We cannot forget how this honoured motherland of ours was made a graveyard in the eyes of the world with the assassinations of our former President Ranasinghe Premadasa, and respected politicians such as Defence Minister Ranjan Wijeratne, Leader of the Opposition Gamini Dissanayake, Minister of National Security Lalith Athulathmudali, and the statesman par excellence former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar who took the voice of the Sri Lankan Tamils to the world, and also a large number of other national leaders; and the many thousand heroes of war among whom were Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Wijaya Wimalaratne, Parami Kulatunga; prominent Tamil leaders such as Appapillai Amirthalangam, Neelan Tiruchelvam, Yogeswaran, Pararajasingham and Raviraj, and also the destruction of the economic nerve centres such as the Katunayake Airport and Central Bank. Besides all this the massacre of bhikkus at Arantalawa and devotees at the Sri Maha Bodhi, the attack and killings at the Dalada Maligawa, the killings at Pettah comprise a series of killings that still make Sri Lankans shudder, and have entered world history as the inexcusable crimes of brutal terrorism.

Beginning with Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, all leaders from President J.R. Jayewardene to President Chandrika Kumaratunga sought to face up to this grave threat to the nation and bring peace to our motherland.

Similarly, my effort as your Head of State is to build a peaceful Sri Lanka where the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people can live as brothers. I have described this effort as a New Sri Lanka.

“Join hands to Propagate Peace - The foremost National need”

59th Independence Commemoration on February 04, 2007 in Colombo

In the period between the 58th anniversary of independence and today as we celebrate its 59th anniversary, we have sacrificed much for peace, which is the foremost national need. You are aware that we did not give into any provocation until the closure of the Mavil Aru anicut, violating the fundamental rights of more than 50,000 people. Even when the terrorists left the negotiation table we remained there with humility. Was this through cowardice? No! Venerable Sirs. That is how we demonstrated our commitment to peace.

It is this massive commitment to peace that led our Security Forces to liberate the innocent Tamil people who were taken hostage and used as a human shield by the terrorists, to win their savage demands. For this valiant effort our heroic security forces deserve the salute of the Sri Lankan people on this honoured day.

“Highest rate of economic growth in 30 years during the first year of my administration”

Launch of Central Bank’s Annual report for 2006 in Colombo.

The Report of the Sri Lanka Central Bank for the year 2006, which can be called a watershed year in the history of Sri Lanka, was released today. As the President of the country and the Minister of Finance I have come to the Central Bank premises today to accept the report with pride because we have been able to achieve the highest rate of economic growth in 30 years in the first year of my administration.

The commendable economic growth of 7.4% achieved last year despite an unprecedented series of obstacles is no accident. It is a result of careful planning and efficient implementation. The two premier institutions under my Finance Ministry - the Treasury and the Central Bank contributed largely to it.

“SAARC should adopt a single currency to propagate productivity in the region through trade without barriers”

14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi on 03rd April 2007

Our region is the proud inheritor of a unique historical tradition. Our common contribution to religion, art, literature, and moral values is second to none. But, today, we are a region of contrasts. There are significant disparities in GDP, income levels, natural resources, populations etc.

Countries, particularly in Europe, have come together to form regional blocks despite major differences in language, culture, religion, income levels and deep seated historical enmities bringing benefits to their people that could not have been possible only a few years ago. I am particularly concerned that SAARC has not realised its enormous potential yet. I strongly believe that SAARC must become a Union where we will endeavour to achieve our political and economic pursuits. It is also high time that we adopt a single currency, which will enhance the productivity of the region and improve trade without barriers

“The 10 year development frame work under the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ - The recipe for a new Sri Lanka”

G-11 Summit in Jordan on May 19th 2007

In the 10 year Development Framework under the Mahinda Chintana, the recipe for a new Sri Lanka, we have outlined several programmes particularly to address the issues of the rural sector. We are placing emphasis on roads, particularly in the rural areas, electricity, irrigation and water supply, housing and livelihood assistance. We have launched an unprecedented rural development initiative within the medium-term development framework. A large share of investment goes into developing the basic infrastructure in rural areas. The roads in remote and rural areas are being developed. We are using new instruments for rural community empowerment.

In order to ensure poverty reduction and social uplift and to implement our development programmes, what we require is financial and technical assistance.

“Sri Lanka’s unique strength lies in the quality of its human resources”

Address by President at the 96th session of the International Labour conference in Geneva It is appropriate for me to say that, having gained admission to the ILO in 1948, Sri Lanka has been a party to 31 ILO Conventions including its eight core conventions. This is particularly appropriate; because Sri Lanka’s unique strength lies in the quality of its human resources.

We have had a proud history of worker participation in the political life of our society.

Worker activists have been elected in their own right, first to the State Council in 1931, and then to Parliament since 1948. There is no doubt that it was their activism which was substantially responsible for Sri Lanka achieving unprecedented social standards for a Third World Country.

I am proud to say that Sri Lanka achieved Universal Adult Franchise in 1931 and women gained the right to vote, before this right was achieved in many Western countries.

In formulating our public policy, we have always tried to strike a balance among 3 objectives - macro economic management, development and welfare.

“Protecting human rights has been an essential part of our great cultural tradition”

To the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 25, 2007:

Sri Lanka’s ancient civilisation was rooted in the Buddhist principles of Metta and Ahimsa. Metta is loving kindness to all living beings and Ahimsa is a deep respect for life. Human rights have been an essential part of our great cultural tradition for millennia. It is therefore nothing new for us to protect human rights. Women in pre-colonial Sri Lanka enjoyed rights that are prescribed under CEDAW [Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women] - including rights of property ownership and inheritance rights. It was certainly not an accident that Sri Lanka produced the first democratically elected woman Prime Minister in the world in 1960. Guided by the principles of Buddhism, we have long respected the rights of our fellow human beings. Therefore, it had not been necessary for us to experience global wars or the deaths of millions to, learn to recognise their value. My country has no record of inflicting misery on fellow human beings.

“Despite the ongoing conflict Sri Lanka has not neglected development”

Los Angeles World Affairs Council on September 28, 2007

Despite the ongoing conflict, Sri Lanka has not neglected economic development in other parts of the country. We are in the process of expanding the capacity of the Colombo port. In a few years, Colombo port will be a modern commercial hub with significantly enhanced capacity to handle container vessels. Another port is being developed in the country’s South, also an international airport. Several major irrigation projects have been started. A national budget airline operates to seven international destinations giving a boost to the tourism industry. Sri Lanka has still not exploited its full potential to meet the demands of the IT world. I invite you to consider Sri Lanka as a destination, when you make your own investment decisions in the future.

Our per capita income is around US Dollars 1350 now, one of the highest in South Asia. The economy grew by 7.2% last year. Unemployment is at a record low level. We are also on the way to achieving or surpassing many of the Millennium Development Goals. For instance, less than 5% of our population is below the poverty line. The net primary school enrolment in 2004 was 97%. Almost every child in Sri Lanka goes to school. Very few countries in the world can make this claim. Our infant mortality rate in 2004 was one of the lowest in the world.

“We will continue to give the highest priority to increase agriculture, dairy farming and fisheries to face up to the challenge of ensuring adequate food for our people”

UN Food Summit in Rome on 03rd June 2008

We will continue to give the highest priority to increase agriculture, dairy farming and fisheries to face up to the challenge of ensuring adequate food for our people. Yet, being an island nation, we are faced with the threats to food security from high oil prices and the changing patterns of cultivation abroad - with bio-fuels made more attractive than food crops.

In the prevailing competition between food and fuel, Sri Lanka is firm in the decision that no land that can be used for food will be used for bio-fuel whatever the commercial attraction may be. It is our belief that food for the people should have the highest priority, and not the running of gas-guzzling vehicles.

At national level therefore, even before the issue of global food security had reached a crisis level, my government had already launched an integrated drive towards ensuring our country`s food security. But while we act at national level, we need to recognise the fact that in the highly interconnected world of today the causes of the world`s food crisis have to be confronted at regional and global levels as well.

“Redouble collective efforts to combat regional terrorism”

15th SAARC Summit in Colombo on 02 August 2008

As we meet today, most countries of our region are faced with the curse of terrorism that threatens the peace and stability that is needed so much for the forward march of our people. No country in the SAARC region has been spared of this plague. We need to redouble our efforts for collective action to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It is important to remember the element of interdependence which is crucial for a durable peace and the protection of democratic values in the region.

We must ensure strengthening regional legal mechanisms and intensifying intelligence sharing, in order to secure the region’s collective prosperity, peace and stability.

Further, I would strongly suggest that in-depth studies are carried out to understand the social impact of this menace.

Sri Lanka has seen the benefits of such cooperation in combating the terrorism in our midst and hopefully eradicating it sooner, than many once expected. My gratitude must go to all our regional partners and our many friends from other quarters that have cooperated with us in this matter.

In my view it is also necessary that we, as a region, endeavour to set right the many wrong impressions that exist, or are promoted elsewhere, about the actions that are imperative to protect our people and societies from the brutalities of terrorism. Terrorism anywhere is terrorism and there are no good terrorists or bad terrorists.

“Talks only possible if LTTE lays down arms”

63rd session of the UN General Assembly on September 24, 2008:

Calls the UN to initiate clear action to arrest the fast spreading menace of global terrorism.

With the promulgation of the UN Charter to save succeeding generations from the tragedy of war, at least the major threat of intercontinental war seems to have receded.

However, the just struggle of Palestinians for statehood continues. Today, the United Nations and its people are confronted with the fast spreading menace of terrorism that manifests itself in various forms in Asia, Africa and Latin America The United Nations has a grave responsibility to save today’s and succeeding generations, from this new and continuing menace. We have been talking for long enough. It is time for clear action in this regard.

Like many other countries, Sri Lanka too has not been spared this global menace.

Exploiting perceived ethnic grievances, that must and can be addressed through political means, the vested interests of a well organised terror group, the LTTE indulges in blatant and brutal acts of terrorism, including suicide bombings to seek negotiating leverage, political recognition and legitimacy. What is happening in Pakistan today is the destructive policy of bloody terrorists.

I am saddened by the loss of life and destruction caused by the recent terrorist attack there.

Our Government has always been ready to address the causes of these issues and effectively implement political and constitutional solutions to meet the aspirations and rights of all communities. What the Government would not, and could not do is to let an illegal and armed terrorist group, the LTTE, to hold a fraction of our population, a part of the Tamil community, hostage to such terror in the northern part of Sri Lanka and deny those people their democratic rights of dissent and free elections. Through our past actions, we have proved it.

The Government has therefore declared its policy of engaging in dialogue and discussion with the democratic leadership of the Tamil community, a people who have lived in harmony with other Sri Lankans for centuries. Today, there are Tamil leaders holding responsible ministerial posts in my government.

A former Attorney General of then Ceylon, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, also a loved Tamil politician, in September 1904, had this to say at a public meeting in Colombo. (I quote) “I have been to many countries in the world.

But, no where have I seen such a friendly race as the Sinhalese who also uphold high moral values.” (unquote).

Such was the harmony between the Tamils and the Sinhalese. But a malicious group has turned all of this upside down.

All successive governments of Sri Lanka have endeavoured to resolve the problem for over twenty five years, including through Norwegian facilitation and international Co-Chairs overseeing a so-called peace process that was treated with contempt by the terrorists.

On each occasion that talks were held seeking peace, the terrorists of the LTTE walked out on the flimsiest of excuses and reverted to terrorism of the worst kind, indiscriminately targeting innocent civilians.

Our Government would only be ready to talk to this illegal armed group when it is ready to commit itself to decommissioning of its illicit weapons and dismantling of its military capability, and return to the democratic fold.

The Government has also made it clear that the elected Government cannot and will not permit undermining of the territorial integrity of the sovereign UN Member State of Sri Lanka and the division of its territory. We are clear in this message.