President Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivered the following speech while addressing the nation:
“Venerable monks, priests, parents, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters,
For decades, many people in this country have gradually but steadily listened to our voice and embraced the vision we presented. I offer my gratitude to all those who have contributed to this victory. I firmly believe that this victory will become even stronger if even those who did not initially agree with our vision can find joy in our success. Therefore, I wish to dedicate this victory to all the citizens of this country.
To all those who placed their trust in our political movement and, despite facing numerous accusations, lies, and distortions, were not afraid to try something new, I have confidence that together we can rebuild this nation.
We also honor the generations of men and women who made sacrifices, some even giving their lives, for this victory. This victory and the prosperous country we aim to build will be a tribute to them.
We have the ability to fulfill the task of rebuilding this country through a collective effort. We are fortunate to have a highly skilled team, and we are all deeply committed to this cause.
Before making strategic changes in every sector, we believe that it is essential to first stabilize the economy. We will work to establish short-term stability through urgent economic measures before implementing long-term and medium-term plans.
There are many steps we must take over a considerable period to achieve the changes we desire. However, these changes depend on building stability and trust in the current economy. To that end, we intend to quickly begin discussions with the International Monetary Fund and move forward with the necessary steps to secure extended financial facilities. We will also engage in discussions with creditors to advance the debt restructuring program and secure debt relief. We believe we can secure both the support of the people and the international community in achieving this goal.
When granting us power, one of the core concepts the public embraced was ‘change.’ Among the key expectations for change, one was to reform the negative traits of our political culture. We have already demonstrated our commitment to that. In the history of presidential elections in this country, this is the first time there has been no post-election violence reported, confirming the trust the people have placed in us. Our goal is to maintain and strengthen this achievement.
In politics, organizing for power and employing strategies is the right of anyone. However, I want to emphasize at this moment that, while politics must be practiced when necessary, it is equally important to unite collectively when the time comes to rebuild the country. We will provide leadership in that effort.
Whether Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, or Malay, we will not succeed as a nation unless we create a practical country where all of these groups can proudly live as ‘Sri Lankans.’ We are not afraid to make the necessary constitutional, economic, and political reforms to achieve this.
We are starting a consistent and stable plan to rebuild this country as a united Sri Lankan nation that respects diversity, leaving behind the era where people were divided based on ethnicity, religion, class, or caste.
We have already taken many steps to appoint competent and honest officials to oversee these tasks. We will move forward step by step towards the necessary changes, ensuring the public service remains strong and does not negatively impact citizens.
We are committed to creating a disciplined society by establishing a lawful country. We will guarantee social security for all citizens and restore the concept that everyone is equal before the law.
We believe that the public service will play a significant role in rebuilding the country. We will create a public service that is proud of serving the people and driven by governmental objectives. We are committed to establishing an efficient, honest, and people-oriented public service.
Our aspiration is to improve the living standards of the people. We are implementing a practical program to reduce the heavy burden of living expenses on the public.
No parent in this country should have to worry about their children’s future. Every parent has the right to provide their children with good schooling and education. We are committed to ensuring quality education for all children and securing the future of the next generation through the development of knowledge, attitudes, and skills.
Whenever you travel abroad, you can form an impression of a country based on its airports, the discipline of its people, and their behavior. Beyond that, the cleanliness of the environment, the way vehicles move on the roads, the respect shown to elders, and even how animals are treated, all reflect the character of a country. We have already prepared plans to restore the image of our country and will implement short-term, medium-term, and long-term measures to achieve that.
We need to elevate the status of the Sri Lankan passport so that it is respected worldwide. We need to build a country where our citizens can proudly say, ‘I am Sri Lankan.’ To make this a reality, your collective contribution is essential.
We will work responsibly to ensure social justice for all citizens and create a trustworthy future for our children and youth through programs that promote education, skills, and entrepreneurship.
Women, who make up over 50% of our population, play a vital role in our economy and society. We will strengthen women’s representation across all sectors. We have already demonstrated our commitment by appointing a woman as the Prime Minister.
A significant portion of our population consists of individuals with disabilities who require special social protection. We are proposing a robust social protection network for these individuals and will implement short-term measures promptly.
As we move forward, we guarantee that no group within our society will be left behind. We will respect each other’s identities and use them to contribute meaningfully to the progress of the country.
We strongly believe in the supremacy of the people and are committed to protecting their democratic rights.
I understand that there may be some who are uncertain or skeptical about us. I hope to earn your trust through my actions. I am open to your constructive criticism, and I encourage you to become part of the future we are building together. If we can overcome our differences, I believe you will see that we share common goals. Through this, we can acknowledge the crisis we face and collectively devise strategies to move forward.
We need a Parliament that truly reflects the will of the people. The current Parliament does not reflect the people’s mandate. Therefore, I took steps yesterday to dissolve Parliament. We have also appointed a Cabinet that reflects our parliamentary representation to ensure the country moves forward constitutionally.
Every new day brings with it a dream shared by all the people of this country.
That dream is of a better tomorrow.
However,
We both know that for decades, it has remained just that – a dream.
Due to opportunism, power-hungry leadership, dictatorship, and racism, we have not yet been able to elevate this country to greater heights.
But now, we have been given an opportunity that history cannot ignore. Let us all come together to build a prosperous and beautiful nation that embraces diversity.”
