Let's build a great nation
*Joy after building a better country
*Hub of knowledge and development
Text of the speech by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa after the swearing in of the second term of office
You are well aware that you now stand on our Motherland that is much
greater than what was handed over to me five years ago. There can be no
greater satisfaction to a leader than the humble joy of being able to
address one's people after building a much better country than before
and successfully carrying out the responsibility handed over to me by
the citizens of this country.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the nation after the
swearing in ceremony. Picture by Sudath Silva |
I recall how, five years ago on November 19, 2005, I took over this
country in this premises. On November 19, when I took over this country
it was divided and the Sri Lankan nation was losing this country.
Yet, we toiled day and night with patience and commitment, facing all
hostile forces, unshaken in the midst of rising storms. Subsequently, on
another memorable May 19 - we united this country achieving a victory
over terrorism that had its global echoes. Today, on this November 19, I
take over this country again with the determination, strength and
courage to raise my Motherland to a position of greatness in the world.
United nation
Sri Lanka became a united nation, freeing the country in line with
the Mahinda Chintana of 2005. From this day on, we will bring this
nation to a position of greatness in this world implementing the policy
of Mahinda Chintana: Vision for the future. Today, I take over this
country with more courage, strength and confidence than in 2005.
Most of us, throughout our lives, have seen two destructive uprisings
in the South and a 30-year long terrorist destruction in the North. I
have seen efforts to globally humiliate our Motherland through terrorism
and separatism and uprisings.
Our task as a nation on the rise to be among the great nations of the
world, is to prevent such bloodshed in another twenty or thirty years.
Therefore our first task is to ensure lasting national unity and
sustainable, permanent peace in our Motherland.
I believe that the eradication of poverty is greater than the defeat
of uprisings. It requires true bravery.
In the Mahinda Chintana of 2005, we decided to develop the 16,000
villages where more than 80 percent of our people live. You will feel
the change in cities outside Colombo and in the villages where there is
a new light of progress in place of the former darkness and ruin around.
When five ports are being developed the villages around them will
inevitably be transformed into developed economic zones.
These rural areas that were ignored from the days of imperial rule
are being developed and the nation's doors open for new employment,
industry, business opportunity and massive development. Yet, we are
aware that the developed countries in the world have many other cities
of fame apart from their capital cities. When development spreads and
the revolution of roadways expands we will have several cities that are
not second in anyway to Colombo.
This will inevitably lead to a completely different image of Sri
Lanka that the world will see tomorrow.
Power projects
The massive power projects now under construction will ensure that by
2012 every home and family in our country will have electricity.
Therefore, the land that was freed from terrorism will by 2012 be a land
that is freed of darkness. You will soon hear the hum of industry that
is powered by this energy.
In keeping with the exhortation of our former kings that not a drop
of water should flow to the sea without first serving the people, we are
today harnessing the water in all our great reservoirs for the task of
development. All reservoirs must be used without letting them idle. This
will lead to the filling up of our barns, providing drinking water to
the people.
When we have enough food for our bodies, our minds will be filled
with the comfort of freedom.
Wonder of Asia
What lies ahead is a period when all of us will have to work hard for
our country. Our expectation is to modernize all areas of employment as
to make them more productive and provide more revenue. The work of our
people should be regarded as an asset and not the result of hiring or
slavery. Our labour is an asset of dignity. It is by increasing the
quality of work that my country can be made the Wonder of Asia.
We have great hope for our younger generation. We will forever
remember the way our young men joined the combined forces and brought
victory to the nation, which bewildered the world. I lay trust in our
beloved sons and daughters while remembering those unparalleled heroes
of war who rest in this soil.
We must move towards a future generation that is trilingual.
It is my hope to raise the level of computer literacy to 75 percent
in the near future and make our future generation true heroes of
technology in the modern world. The name of Sri Lankan youth must top
the list of those employed in the fields of science and technology.
Our generation can achieve this victory by making our country the
knowledge hub we intend it to be.
What I seek is a country where we can travel from one end to another
in a few hours; an era which provides a good income for our people. We
must rise by making this country the hub of development in the five-fold
areas of naval, aviation, commerce and trade, power and energy and
knowledge. We must make this a country one among those with the best
quality of life.
Humanitarian values
There is no room for hatred on politics, community, caste or religion
when our children are brought up in a life that is replete with all
facilities, has shelter and security and is rich in love and friendship.
Development does not mean living in isolation surrounded by concrete
structures while abandoning great humanitarian values, distancing
oneself from the greenery of trees, nature and other species around us.
We should move towards development while safeguarding the great
humanitarian traditions that exist among our people. Nature as seen in
the trees, vegetation and animals in our habitat should also obtain the
benefits of the development we achieve.
Remember this! We are not a miniature of a developed country. We are
Sri Lanka. Our Motherland is Sri Lanka.
We have the inherited wisdom to tolerate all opinion and take mature
decisions. We have a tradition of understanding our problems and
conflicts and finding solutions for them.
We understand our problems with perceived wisdom, based on realities.
The expectations of the people are not those of the terrorists.
We have carried out development work in the North and East as never
before in the history of these regions. All development processes
carried out in the North and East, are a closure of the highways to
terrorism.
I strongly believe that this infrastructure to banish poverty is a
major part of a political solution.
The people of the North were able to use their franchise in freedom
at the Presidential and Parliamentary elections. In the forthcoming
elections too, we will ensure their right to vote freely and elect their
representatives. Our policy is one of non-alignment. We do not have
enemy states or such groups or blocs. During the last era, we worked
with many nations in agreement and friendship for national security. We
now step into the development era. We extend our hand of friendship to
those who assist us in this endeavour. There will be no development in
the absence of peace, nor peace in the absence of development.
Therefore, we will strengthen already existing relations between nations
and are ready to establish new relations for national security and
development.
Parliamentary elections
I am not used to abandoning a task due to difficulty or hardship. Not
only in freeing our nation, we will also not hesitate to take the
boldest of decisions in resolving the deep crises that many think
prevail in society. We need a land free of a lawless underworld,
racketeering, extortion and the carrying of illegal weapons or drugs; a
land free of corruption and inefficiency.
We received a huge majority in all regions of this country in the
Presidential and Parliamentary elections. The people of this country
gave us a huge mandate which cannot be possible through proportional
representation. We wish to see everyone in this land become a
stakeholder in the future victories that will flow from this great
victory, regardless of political differences.
There is no higher position you could elevate me to. I too do not see
any higher position I could achieve in our Motherland. There is only one
place I can think of. It is my home at Medamulana where I will retire
to.
If when I go there, the people of this country who meet me tell me
with gratitude, 'You have done your duty by the country' that shall be
my greatest satisfaction. I value the joy and contentment of my people
more than my own.
Never in any of my speeches have I referred to my Motherland as a
small country. I have never called the land of my birth, 'small Sri
Lanka' or 'small Island'.
This is a land with a great history of many centuries, where the
Kalawewa, Ruwanweliseya, Sigiriya, Yoda Ela, Lovamahapaya stand; where
the Buddha has trod thrice on this land.
A land that won our freedom from the world's most powerful
imperialism from struggles that lasted nearly four centuries; has
defeated the most ruthless and savage terrorists of the world. It is
where people who follow four different faiths live in harmony and where
today many communities live in brotherhood and where the world's largest
habour and five other ports are being built and the strides of
development are proceeding to build airports, expressways and massive
power stations. With such an abundance of greatness who would dare to
say that this is a small island?
Therefore, never ever call this a small country. You too must develop
your body, mind and word to match the dignity of this land of your birth
and take this country to the greatness it deserves.
Utthanavato satimato
sucikammassa nisammakarino
Sannatassa ca dhammajivino
appamattassa yaso bhivaddhati
- Dhammapada
(The fame of him who strives after perfection, is mindful is pure
indeed, considerate, is restrained, righteous and heedful spreads far
and wide.)
I call on you to follow these words
of the Buddha.
I wish you all a bright future!
May the Noble Triple Gem bless you!
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