President presents statement of Government Policy in parliament

It was at about 2.30 that President Maithripala Sirisena and his spouse arrived at the parliament premises to make the throne-speech in parliament this afternoon at 3 in the afternoon.

Both of them were welcome after the singing of the national anthem, the 21 gun salute by Tri-forces personnel and the recital of jayamangala gatha after which the President took rest at the Speaker's dressing-room subsequent to which he conducted his throne-speech and explained the new government policies. The President made his throne-speech from the Speaker's seat initially saying that he welcomes everyone who was elected in parliament by the peaceful election in history and that he hopes that preschool children going to school with ipad in the hand would dawn during this parliamentary period itself.

The President explaining the concept of a National Government said that one Party was ruling for 35 years and the other for 32 years; voicing out shortcomings of each Party and struggling for power and instead of developing the country what they focused on was giving preference to other matters and that in order to create a more productive government he wished to establish a consensus parliamentary system. 

He pointed out that the preliminary duty of a consensus government is to progress towards development by promoting a reconciliation among communities. He further said that a new policy would be implemented after comparing his policy of a Maithripalanaya, the panchavida prathipaththi manifesto presented by the Eksath Jathika Peramuna, anagathayata sahathikayak manifesto presented by the Alliance, and the manifesto presented by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and the Tamil National Alliance.  He also said that responsibilities would be handed over to this parliament whereby amendments would be effected so that everyone would be able to be in harmony with the Constitution. He further informed that even the final decision about the Executive Presidential System is the responsibility of the parliament. The President in addition made it a point to refer in his speech that those who have been accused of misappropriation of public property would be dealt by law irrespective of social standing. He then said that a foreign policy whereby an Asian-centred Middle Path would be followed and that a development based on skills would be put in motion. 

He mentioned that it was possible for his rule to bring about an advantages attitude during the past seven months where the foreign policy was concerned and also to cultivate the goodwill of the country towards a favourable outlook. The President next said that he hopes to increase the privileges necessary as well as the welfare activities for the Tri-forces and the Police who saved the country from the terrorists. Also that legal provisions would be brought about to grant permission to display his or her ancestral name at public places if one so wishes and also that necessary procedures would be effected to get down scholars stationed overseas.

The President brought his speech to a close by inviting everybody to give his or her co-operation to establish a Consensus Government. After the President's Speech the parliament was adjourned till 9.30 a.m. day-after-tomorrow, 3rd Thursday.

The video of the moment when the President arrived at the parliamentary complex and was welcomed with gun-salutes and recital of jayamangala gatha, from BELOW