President tells 59th SLFP Anniversary:
Changes strengthen democracy
*People’s expectations fulfilled
*Emphasis on development
Rasika SOMARATHNA
President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the 59th anniversary meeting of the
SLFP yesterday that accelerated development, a stable Government,
strengthening democracy, peace and prosperity in line with people’s
expectations were the aims of the envisaged constitutional amendments
and not the extension of his term in office.
Addressing over 15,000, including party cadres from top to the
grass-roots level at Temple Trees, the President said that if he chose
to go for a third term first the party had to sanction his candidacy and
next the people had to decide whether or not to retain him.
Emphasizing that there were mis-information in this regard the
President said that deleting the clause which restricts the number of
contesting opportunities would pave way for greater sovereignty and
widen peoples scope of choice.
Addressing cheering party cadres President Rajapaksa noted that the
SLFP with the help of other stakeholders had created the strongest
Government in Asia today.
The two thirds majority which pundits claimed as a near impossibility
under the present constitution is within the reach of the Government, he
added.
The Government is of the view that certain clauses in the
Constitution should be amended to pave way for accelerated development
and greater stability and efficiency to fulfill people’s expectations
and we are committed to do so, he observed. Commenting on the envisaged
changes to the 17th Amendment, the President noted that what had been
done was to re-enlist certain regulatory powers which the parliament
lost in 1978.
According to the President the proposed council which replaces the CC
would consist a member each from the Tamil and Muslim communities in
addition to the Premier, Speaker and the Opposition leader .
He urged the party cadre to go to the grass-roots level and educate
the masses on these new changes.
He stressed that since the victory over terrorism the emphasis today
was on development and also urged party members to take the reigns of
development in their respective villages.
He said that as SLFP’s in power all had a responsibility to ensure a
prosperous and peaceful nation for the present as well as future
generation.
On the occasion three resolutions on Economic prosperity,
Development, Conquering the future through harmony and need for
Constitutional amendments in national interest presented by Minister
Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka and Prime
Minister D.M.Jayaratne respectively were adopted by the membership
unanimously.
An electronic automated SLFP membership card too was introduced with
the inaugural card being given to Prime Minister D.M.Jayaratne by the
President. The President later handed over similar membership cards to
other senior leaders.
Immediately after, the SLFP membership felicitated one of their
senior most citizens, the veteran T.D.Pasquel of Matugama with the
President presenting him a memento.
The cheerful atmosphere both within and outside the auditorium at the
Temple Trees was further enhanced with the colourful cultural events
presented by the ‘Youth’ dancing troupe of the National Youth Council. |