Simple, solemn ceremony marks President’s swearing-in

Chaminda Perera

President Mahinda Rajapaksa took oaths yesterday for a second term as President before Chief Justice Asoka de Silva at the auspicious time of 10.16 am opposite the Presidential Secretariat at a simple but a solemn and dignified ceremony.

The entire environs of the Galle Face Green where the ceremony was held took a ceremonial atmosphere with the performances of over 400 traditional drummers and dancers soon after the President was sworn in amidst a roar of applause of thousands of invitees and members of the public.

Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga read out the announcement of Elections Commissioner of the election of President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the President of Sri Lanka based on the results of the last Presidential election held in January this year.

Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley, Chinese President’s special envoy Sang Guowei, Maldivian President Mohammed Nasheed, Pakistani Senate Chairman Farook Hamid Naek and State Minister Saleem Mandiriwalla were among the foreign delegates who were in attendance at the oath taking ceremony.

The inauguration of President’s second term of office marked an important milestone of the country’s history just 18 months after defeating terrorism which plagued the country’s development for over three decades.

The swearing in of the President for the second term of office took place on a special dais opposite the old Parliament building complex facing the Galle Face promenade where a number of important events in the country’s modern history have taken place amid the chanting of Seth Pirith by the members of Maha Sangha. The ceremony started with the arrival of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family members followed by Panchaseelaya being administered by Asgiriya Mahanayake Most Ven Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera.

A bevy of school girls recited Jayamangala gatha before President Rajapaksa and the three Service Commanders few minutes after he was sworn in.

He received a Guard of Honour from a contingent of 114 members of Security Forces representing the the Sri Lanka Army, the Navy and the Air Force after taking oaths for the second term of office.

The Sri Lanka Army conducted a 21 gun salute in honour of President Rajapaksa.

The country was on the verge of being separated when President Rajapaksa came into power in 2005. The President infused optimism and believed in the enormous potential of Security Forces and the people by organizing them towards victory over terrorism.

He succeeded in obtaining the support of representatives of many political parties in his excise of annihilating terrorism from Sri Lanka. The Government led by President Rajapaksa focused on overall development of the country while facing the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world. More than 80 percent of the country’s rural population saw their villages being developed during the first term of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in office.