Newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his hope that he would be able to gain the trust and support of those who did not vote for him or believe in him, as well as those who did, in the future. He emphasized that the support of all citizens would be essential in fulfilling his duties.
Speaking to the nation today (23) at the Presidential Secretariat following his swearing-in ceremony, President Dissanayake shared his thoughts on the responsibilities of his presidency.
His full speech is as follows:
“The most important feature of democracy in our country is that the people can choose their leader to govern them. However, democracy does not end with just casting a vote and electing a leader. While that is a fundamental aspect, we need to strengthen our democracy through robust systems and legal frameworks.
That’s why I want to inform the people that I am committed to ensuring the strength of democracy during my tenure. Sri Lanka has a history of peaceful transfers of power following elections, and no leader has ever rejected the result of an election. In that spirit, I express my deep gratitude to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe for graciously accepting the people’s verdict and for his dedication to democratic transition.
We understand very clearly that we are inheriting a country facing significant challenges. Our country’s political system needs to be more transparent. People expect a clean and good political culture, and we are ready to commit ourselves to that cause.
There is a negative perception about politicians and politics in our country. People see politics as something dishonorable. We are committed to changing that perception and restoring the people’s trust and respect in politicians and politics through our utmost dedication.
Furthermore, we believe that the deep crisis we face cannot be solved by a single government, a single political party, or one individual. I have already said that I am not a magician. I am just a regular citizen of this country with strengths and weaknesses, knowledge and limitations. My primary task is to gather expertise and make the best decisions possible.
Therefore, my responsibility is to lead in a collective effort to address these crises. This is a task that requires the collective involvement of all citizens and sectors, and I expect everyone’s support to fulfill this responsibility.
As the President of this country, I understand that the ultimate responsibility for leading the nation through these challenges lies with me. I am prepared to reassure the citizens that I will do everything within my capacity to address these challenges.
Moreover, our country needs international cooperation. We will conduct our foreign policy in a way that benefits us in the global power dynamics. We do not want to be an isolated nation; we want to be a country that moves forward collectively and cooperatively with the world. We will make the necessary decisions without hesitation.
Our industrialists and entrepreneurs have a significant role to play in rebuilding the country. We expect them to strengthen and assist the government’s efforts to develop the country.
Finally, I want to say that I have been elected President through a democratic process. The people have voted for me. There are also those who did not vote for me. We understand the composition of this victory. Therefore, during my presidency, I am confident that I will be able to gain the trust and cooperation of those who did not vote for me and those who do not currently believe in me. We will experience this in practical terms in the coming days, and I seek the support of all to achieve this.”
