{"id":37815,"date":"2015-01-27T20:11:23","date_gmt":"2015-01-28T01:11:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=37815"},"modified":"2015-01-27T20:13:03","modified_gmt":"2015-01-28T01:13:03","slug":"after-835-years-a-national-leader-has-come-to-power-from-the-rajarata-but-i-am-no-dutu-gemunudevanampiyatissa-or-parakramabahu-president-sirisena-in-polonnaruwa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=37815","title":{"rendered":"“A National Leader from Rajarata After 835 Years but I am no Dutu Gemunu,Devanampiyatissa or Parakramabahu”-President Sirisena in Polonnaruwa"},"content":{"rendered":"


\nBY UDENI SAMAN KUMARA AND BANDARA MUDIYANSE<\/strong><\/p>\n

after 835 years that a national leader came to power from Rajarata. I am no Dutu Gemunu, Devanampiyatissa or Parakramabahu; <\/p>\n

“If I lost the presidential election, my dearly beloved people of Polonnaurwa would most probably have missed seeing me from the very next day as I would have ended up in a grave somewhere, together with the members of my family,” said President Maithripala Sirisena addressing a felicitation meeting held in his honour in Polonnaruwa.<\/em><\/p>\n

“The last presidential election was the most corrupt election held so far in this country. All the political powers and State resources were misused at unprecedented levels, hitherto not seen resorted to by any political leader in this country.<\/p>\n

“The Prime Minister and I, in consultation with other party leaders in our Common Opposition Front, can dissolve this Parliament even at midnight today. But, we are not going to do it because it would retard the progress of our much prized 100-day programme. In such case, we will not be able to fulfil our much-needed constitutional amendments within the time frame we have stipulated; what is more important and relevant at this stage is to fulfil what we have promised to the people, with the support of all progressive elements in the SLFP and other parties,” the President reiterated.<\/p>\n

Maithri felicitation (Janabhinandana) ceremony was held in Thopawewa Sports Stadium, Polonnaruwa, presided over by the newly-elected President, Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, with the participation of thousands of well-wishers.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dharshana Ruwan Dissanayake and music group sang the felicitation song ‘Apata Puthek Lebuna’ (we got a son). Prime Minister, Wickremesinghe and Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne also addressed the crowd.<\/p>\n

Gratitude<\/strong><\/p>\n

The President said, “On this great occasion, I offer my heartiest felicitations to my beloved faithful people of Polonnaruwa. I humbly declare that it was you who elevated me to this position. You brought me up and you fostered and nurtured me among you as one of you, to rise to the occasion to give leadership when it was critically needed. My grateful thanks will always be with you.<\/p>\n

“First I had my political baptism in the Communist Party for two years. Thereafter, for 47 years, I matured in politics with my beloved SLFP. My long association with the SLFP had given me strength, sagacity and confidence to string together a common opposition with the UNP, SLFP, JHU, JVP, DP, TNA and the Muslim Congress, in all 49 people’s organizations to bring about the downfall of an autocratic leader and a corrupt government. All our people should be rightfully proud of this great achievement. <\/p>\n

As you know, all other political leaders, from D.S. Senanayake until the former leader who came to power, guarded democratic traditions zealously. But, the former leader of the country, who was just deposed, resorted to every vile means to win the election by any means, disregarding every norm of good governance practised in mature democracies. The last presidential election demeaned and devalued the electoral process, displaying great moral paucity of the previous regime.<\/p>\n

“The first presidential election in this country was held in 1982. You will remember how decently and respectfully candidate JR treated Kobbekaduwa, as gentlemen politicians behave towards each other. How respectful was Premadasa to Sirima Bandaranaike when she contested the presidential election. She was afforded due respect by her opponent.<\/p>\n

“Likewise, Srima Dissanayake was decently treated by Chandrika when she contested the Presidential Election in 1994.<\/p>\n

“When I came forward as the common candidate, I was ridiculed and subjected to every form of insult, maybe because I was a common man from Polonnaruwa. But, I could bear them up because of the political maturity I inherited by being a man from Polonnaruwa.<\/p>\n

The UNP and other stakeholders in this government are successfully building up a new people-friendly political culture. Shortly after I assumed the Presidency, I was offered the SLFP leadership also. This gave rise to various fears in the unfriendly quarters.<\/p>\n

“But, I am glad to say the world looked at our achievement as a watershed in the world political sphere.
\nWe promised an all party unity government to the people and we are right on course. We do not condone violence in any form before and after election. We faced the election at risk to our lives and limb. If I lost, I would have ended up in an unmarked grave. That includes my wife and children too. I was given to understand reliably that plans were in place by the Rajapaksa Government to arrest my children, with the conclusion of the election.<\/p>\n

For a just society<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Today, Mahinda Rajapaksa is lamenting that I did not give him a house. But, I wish to ask him whether he would have extended the same courtesy to me, had I lost. I take heart from the fact that I was able to do very useful service to our people through the Sri Maha Bodhi Society. We have moved ahead in our endeavour to build a just and fair society. To move further forward we need a parliamentary majority. <\/p>\n

Though Presidency is powerful, it has to be backed by a strong Parliament to implement some proposals in our election manifesto; we need a two-thirds parliamentary majority. My acceptance of SLFP leadership becomes crucial in this situation. At this stage what is most important is to attend to our commitments in the 100-day programme. We need the help from all quarters to deliver on our promises. By the end of February, we will begin harvesting in Polonnaruwa.<\/p>\n

We have lined up many programmes to help the farmers. It is after 835 years that a national leader came to power from Rajarata. I am no Dutu Gemunu, Devanampiyatissa or Parakramabahu; I will try my best to build up a new Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura.”<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, said, “We waged a virtual war to end Rajapaksa autocratic rule. When the Election Commissioner declared Maithripala Sirisena as the newly-elected President of Sri Lanka, we knew we had won the battle. We should be proud to have a national leader from Rajarata long after the end of Thun Sinhala Kingdoms. After the times of Sinhala kings it was D.S. Senanayake who developed agriculture in these areas; Bandaranaike, C.P. de Silva and JR too were instrumental in developing the agriculture in Polonnaruwa. I am sure our new President will do everything to bring Polonnaruwa to the top of the agricultural map of this country.<\/p>\n

This election was very much like a fight to a finish between two contenders to a throne. Knowing how the odds were stacked, we aligned with the indefatigable social reformer Ven. Maduluwave Sobhitha Thera and freedom seekers in the SLFP itself. We will punish wrongdoers irrespective of which camp they are in.”<\/p>\n

Peshala Jayaratne, former Provincial Minister: “You are blessed with being associated with felicitation extended to two great personages who have built a solid bridge between the two most prominent political clans in this country, Senanayakas and Bandaranaikes. This bonding of the two great political clans in common cause of the country is a good omen for future prosperity.<\/p>\n


\nCourtesy:Ceylon Today<\/em><\/p>\n

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BY UDENI SAMAN KUMARA AND BANDARA MUDIYANSE after 835 years that a national leader came to power from Rajarata. I am no Dutu Gemunu, Devanampiyatissa or Parakramabahu; “If I lost the presidential election, my dearly beloved people of Polonnaurwa would most probably have missed seeing me from the very next day as I would have …<\/p>\n

Continue reading ‘“A National Leader from Rajarata After 835 Years but I am no Dutu Gemunu,Devanampiyatissa or Parakramabahu”-President Sirisena in Polonnaruwa’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37815"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=37815"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37815\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37817,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37815\/revisions\/37817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=37815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=37815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=37815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}