Yes, we can!…
Blossoming Youth
The future belongs to the youth, especially Generation Z, who are growing up in a fast-paced, digital world. Generation Z, grew up in a rapidly developing world of technology. Therefore they are designed to be quick in action and decision making.
We have a series of plans in the works to equip the youth with the knowledge and experience required to one day lead the nation.
They will be given opportunities and guidance to generate income by working from home. Training programmes will be implemented in the fields ofDigital Marketing, Freelancing, E-Commerce, etc.
The necessary creativity skills and technical guidance will be provided to the young generation who would like to professionally engage in social media as content creators.
We will form the necessary background to create employment opportunities in the emerging areas such as modern agriculture and,eco-friendly tourism industry. These opportunities will be efficiently expanded as the economy of the country gets strengthened.
We will expand National Youth Mental Health Promotion Services and implement a comprehensive programme to help individuals overcome harmful addictions and adopt effective socialization practices.
We will provide opportunities and support for cultural, aesthetic and creative activities as well as sports activities.
The necessary background will be created to increase the representation of youth in the political field. The new generation of politicians will be equipped with knowledge through the establishment of the Youth Parliamentary Consultation Office and a Faculty of Political Science.
Youth engagement in governance will be encouraged through the ‘Gen Z Dialogue’, a dialogue where youth could present their novel and creative ideas of governance to the state.
We will revive Provincial Youth Centres and provide modern facilities.
Sports
Informal practices and external interferences in the past have led to current weaknesses in sports administration. As a result, our athletes are facing various difficulties.
New legislation will be introduced for sports to address this situation.
According to the recommendations of the committee appointed on cricket, Sri Lanka Cricket will be restructured. The draft presented by the committee has now been submitted to the International Cricket Council for approval.
The sports training institute will be modernized to be on par with present-day requirements.
A well- structured development programme will be implemented at both the village and school levels in order to recognize and improve the skills of rural athletes up to international standards.
We will develop the Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium to international standards.
All these tasks will commence in 2025.
Senior Citizens
In the current fast-paced and complex society, it is increasingly challenging for senior citizens to rely on their children for necessary care.
Both adults and children often find themselves in difficult and helpless situations when it comes to providing care for elders.
Therefore, it is expected to establish care centres forsenior citizensall over the country, that are armed with modern facilities.
We will amend the National Policy for Senior Citizens in 2025.
Various activities will be carried out by the Divisional Secretariats and Community Organizations to enhance the social and cultural lives of senior citizens.
Requirements of the Community with Special Needs
Abiding by the Article 4 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, we will be introducing a new Bill in 2025, ensuring that all citizens, including those with disabilities, enjoy full human rights and freedom.
We will take steps to adopt the Sign Language Bill and develop a comprehensive national policy for people with special needs.
The building access policies will be revised to ensure that they meet the requirements of individuals with disabilities.
We will allocate a special employment quota for such communities.
Respect for All Communities
Across the country, there are small community groups that often go unnoticed and are marginalized by society. Although these groups have faced different forms of suppression and difficulties, no attention has been given to their requirements so far.
We are committed to building a society where no citizen is discriminated against or disadvantaged based on religion, language, caste, gender, political opinion, or place of birth.
A New Hope for the Public Service
We will increase the salaries of public servants from the range of 24% to 50%. The lowest salary will be brought up to Rs. 30,000. The Cost of Living allowance will be increased to Rs. 25,000.
Government employees below the age of 40 will be given one year’s leave with scholarships to follow courses to improve service efficiency.
University of Public Policy and Administration will be established.
A skills or merit-based promotion system will be introduced.
Our plan includes digitalizing the entire public service to make it more efficient and streamlined. To support this initiative, we are hoping to provide laptops, tablets, and smartphones at subsidized rates.
Government employees without access to housing will be given priority under a new housing scheme.
As the economy strengthens, we will increase the amount of distress loans and reissue property and housing loans.
The services that can be performed remotely will be given the option of working from home.
We will implement a formal and transparent transfer system within the Public Service.
We are committed to eliminating salary anomalies among pensioners.
The above tasks will be commenced in 2025.
One Hundred Thousand New Employment Opportunities in the Next Year..!
As a result of our economic policies, an increasing number of new enterprises will emerge through local and foreign investments, creating numerous employment opportunities in the future. While this may take a year or two to develop, in the meantime, one hundred thousand new employment opportunities will be provided in the year 2025 as follows;
l Development projects supported by foreign countries, which were previously suspended, are now being resumed since we are presently emerging out of bankruptcy. Many of these projects are in the construction industry, and this will create numerous job opportunities.
l In 2025, we will launch a new programme for youth who do not get through Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations. This programme, in collaboration with the private sector including tourism and manufacturing industries, will provide vocational training and a monthly allowance of 35,000 rupees for a period of one year. Private companies could also contribute additional funds to this allowance. They will be provided employment opportunities in those companies after the training.
* New employment opportunities are emerging nationwide, owing to the concessional loans given to small and medium enterprises. It is also a great opportunity to offer a solution to unemployment.
* Agricultural modernization will create a significant number of new employment opportunities from the year 2025 to 2027.
* Additionally, vacancies created by retirements in government service will provide further employment opportunities.
Foreign Employment
Foreign workers are a crucial source of our country’s foreign exchange.
We are in the process of amending the Foreign Employment Bureau Act, which will introduce benefits such as housing schemes and daycare centres, to provide them with better facilities and working conditions.
We will also be taking necessary steps to enhance foreign employment opportunities. We will establish an Information Centre which will provide continuously updated data on the international job market.
Employment opportunities in the fields of elderly care and childcare are abundant in foreign countries. We will train the youth who wish to be employed in those areas and improve their language skills.
These tasks will be commenced in 2025.
Support for Informal Workers
A large number of people work in the informal labour market, which includes three-wheeler drivers, private bus drivers and conductors, labourers and many others.
We will be introducing a contributory pension and social security system for all these workers in the year 2025.
Standardized training will be provided to enhance the professional dignity of these roles. NVQ Level 4 certification courses for female massage therapists have already been introduced.
Many three-wheeler drivers are currently suffering due to debt. We will be providing the defaulters with an opportunitythrough State banks to restructure their loans. Discussions will be done to make the necessary arrangements to extend this relief through private banks as well.
Country First
The Security (Special Provisions) Act has now been drafted to enhance the status of our Tri Forces and stabilize the security of the nation.
The committee’s report on modernizing security forces to meet the demands of 2030 has been received, and its recommendations will be implemented.
‘One Rank – One Pension’ system will be introduced for the Tri Forces.
This will eliminate the issues related to pensions of war heroes.
Opportunities will be expanded for our military personnel to serve in the UN Peacekeeping Missions.
Avenues will be created for retired military personnel to contribute to the security sector by encouraging the establishment of related manufacturing industries.
Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force will be given opportunities to gain valuable experience and generate income through deployments in the Gulf region.
We will empower our armed forces with advanced knowledge and technology, ensuring that the nation’s security remains safe from the threats that may come from land, sea, air, or cyberspace.
Renaissance of the Police Service
The basic foundation of a strong criminal justice system is to create a Police Service consisting of safe, responsible, active, competent, brave and honest officials who ensure the safety of citizens.
A Police University will be established with the aim of improving the institutional and extracurricular knowledge and skills of police officers. Therebypolice officers will be given the opportunity to obtain degrees and post-graduate degrees while in service.
In our effort to build a disciplined society, we will establish the foundation for the Sri Lanka Police to deliver service with maximum efficiency.
Prisoners are Human Beings Too
At present, prisons are overcrowded, and this posing significant harm to the mental and physical health of inmates. It also impedes the effective rehabilitation of prisoners, hindering their reintegration into society as productive individuals.
We have planned to build a number of new prisons in accordance with international standards.
It is expected to equip these new prisons with facilities in the aspects of health, sanitation, food, and welfare services for both prisoners and prison officers.This will strengthen the process of rehabilitating prisoners and helping them reintegrate into society as law-abiding citizens.
The cases of long-term detainees and those serving lengthy sentences will be reviewed.
Necessary facilities and training will be provided to prison officers.
Combating Illegal Drugs
Illicit drug use, drug trafficking, drug addiction and the inability to recover from addiction have createdserious social problems. We are ready to take action to control all illegal drug-related activities.
In 2025, we will draft a bill to establish a comprehensive Anti-narcotics Command Headquarters covering all functions from drug control to rehabilitation of drug addicts, and ensure that it is passed in 2025 itself.
A Win for the Motherland
A country will gleam brighter and brighter if her people are lovers of arts, who can dive into the depths of literature, music, dance and history, and emerge sympathetic, creative, open-minded individuals who want the best for their motherland.
Cultural Citizens
It is no secret that Sinhala Language, Literatureand Fine Arts are nourished by Buddhist teachings. These teachings alone can shape people to be good and exemplary citizens.
Sri Lanka is a multi-religious and multi-cultural nation. Hinduism, Christianity and Islam have beenpracticed in Sri Lanka from the past. I pledge to protecting and respecting all religions, places of worship, and cultural identitiesin our multi-cultural society.
The invaluable heritage found at the historical sites of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa should be further studied and utilized for the benefit of the country. We aim to give priority to peace and eliminate disputes, that are found in the values of governance in the Eastern world. While promoting non-violence, kindness and compassion, we would also seek to be nourished by the lessons from the Western world.
We are looking forward to establishing a digital museum dedicated to Buddhist civilization of the historic city of Kandy.
Measures will be taken to utilizeAI and new technologies to study the Thripitakaya. Establishing Mahavihara University is another important objective we have.
A fund will be established to provide necessary facilities to the forest-dwelling monks. We have already started work to develop the Pirivena education. We will also develop infrastructure facilities for the spiritual development of the Buddhist nuns.
Hinduism began spreading across the country during the Anuradhapura – Polonnaruwa periods. Steps will betaken to develop Hindu temples as well.
We will introduce Dakshina Kailasa based on Thiruketheeshwaram in Mannar, Naguleshwaram in Jaffna, and Munneshwaram in Chillaw. Koneshwarama temple will be upgraded as the main Hindu temple of this pilgrimage.
The establish an education center to obtain formal education on Hinduism has been planned after having discussions with the Hindu religious leaders.
We will provide facilities to teach Christian/Catholic children in a Christian/Catholic setting. The government will fund the Seminaries and other places that offer Christian/Catholic education. We will develop theinfrastructure facilities around important shrines such as the Madu Shrine and improve facilities available for devotees.
We will be taking steps to develop Madrasa education to facilitate Islam education. Recently there have been unscientific and anti-religious incidents such as theforced cremation of the dead despite them being Muslims. Necessary measures will be taken to compensate all families who had to undergo this tragedy. Taking furthersteps, new laws will be enacted in 2025 to prevent such incidents in the future. We will establish a society that does not interrupt any religious practice or belief, or disregard cultural identities.
We will continue the programme where solar power systemsare given to religious places.
Improving Fine Arts
The spiritual and intellectual lives of people in any country are nourished by arts and culture.
Our country has been gifted with dance styles from upcountry to low country to Sabaragamuwa, a rich folk culture and various forms of arts and craftsincluding paintings, sculpting etc. Today, Sri Lanka is blessed with artists representing all forms of arts including musicians, dancers, writers, painters, sculptors who have brought international honours to the country.
We will launch programmes to artists to developing their skills to meet international standardsso that they will take our cultural identity to the world.
Sri Lanka nowhas world famous writers and it is our responsibility to facilitate and encourage their writing.
We will establish an International Fine Arts and Cultural Center near Ananda Coomarswamy Mawatha by combining the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, John De Silva Theatre, the Science Museum, Mahaweli Centre, and the New Town Hall Premises. This center shall provide the facilities to improve the skills of the local artists, and produce art of international standard. This center will be named the Ananda Coomaraswamy Arts and Cultural Centre.
A South Asian Cultural Centre and a Museum for Modern and Contemporary Artwill be established in the same premises. This task will be commenced in 2025.
The old military hospital located in Galle Face, Colombo has been allocated for a modern art museum and will commence its construction in 2025.
The centre will provide facilities for the sectors such as traditional and modern dancing, music, painting, crafts, cooking, decorations and designs, fashion and will take measures to generate employment opportunities. This will be a key site of tourist attraction.
Today, book publication has facedcompetition with the e-book technology. We will be taking measures to strengthen the economic power of both the writers and publishers by widening the facilities for printing books.
Further, we will create the support required to uplift stage drama, ballet, and opera in Sri Lanka.
We will reawaken the SAARC Cultural Centre, and lay a strong foundation for art and cultural activities of the region.
We will commence a pop music and dancing academy for the youth who loves the popular culture.
We will setup a fully equipped theatre in every district and organize annual events with the cultural centres, that arecurrentlyfunctionning.
All the government-owned theaters in Colombo including the Tower Hall and Elphinstone Theatre will be established under one umbrella institute and developed to utilise them in a better manner.
The National Film Corporation will be established as Film Development Commission to keep up with the current international trends and will be renamed “Film Sri Lanka”. It will be a gateway to raise our cinema industry up to international level on digital platforms. The relevant Bill that the authority to implement a number of tasks focusing onthe development of cinema is now at its final stage of drafting. After the approval, the government will not intervene with any of the businesses in the field of cinema since it will established as an independent entity. Only regulation would be done by the government. This Bill will be presented to the Parliament in 2025.
The draft Bill for establishing the Public Performance Classification Board cancelling the present Censor Board is now completed. No accusationshall thus be made againsta work of art under criminal law if the work holdsa classification certificate. The draft bill will be passedin the Parliament in 2025.
Best Media Environment
Both multi-community media and modern media are needed to create a sensitive society.
We will be drafting a national journalism policy and building a strong foundation to creating a society that values humanity, discipline, loyalty and integrity.
We will empower and strengthen journalists and freelance writers.
A higher education institute on journalism will be established in 2025.
We will work towardssolving the issues faced by the regional journalists.
An Electronic Media Regulatory Commission will be established to generate a transparentmedia environment which holds values.
A United Sri Lanka
A country where children smile from all directions,
North, South, East and West
walking hand in hand,
finding strength in the beauty of their diversity…
One Nation
Sri Lanka is home to people from differentethnicities, all of whom are citizens of the country and thus have the right to live decent lives. We will ensure happy and free living for all in a unified Sri Lanka.
Two years ago, the economic crisis shattered the people’s hopes in all aspects. People lost the hope of moving forward.
But now, the time has come for everyoneto be united and come together to create a beautiful future for the country. The future which we will be creating will benefits all citizens equally, irrespective of ethnicity.
No citizen who speaks in Tamil should be neglected by the Sinhala community, and similarly, no citizen who speaks in Sinhala should beneglected by the Tamil and Muslim communities. We will make sure that an atmosphere where people from different ethnicities and religions could live harmoniously like relatives and friends, will be created.
We will give prominence to reconciliation and creating prosperous lives for all citizens. Viable solutions will be provided for the social, economic, political, cultural and educational issues of the Northernand Eastern provinces.
The lands people have lost during the time of war is a complex issue. A National Land Commission will be established to provide viable solutions for these land issues.
Tamil and Muslim communities in the Northern and Eastern provinces who have started lives anew after the war are facing a number of issues. The following action will be taken to address their issues;
* Enacting the Truth and Reconciliation Act
* Implementing the Nawaz Commission Report on missing persons
* Provide financial assistance to the rehabilitated LTTE members to engage in self-employment
A Great Power
A single government will not be able to accomplish all these work over the next five years on its own. Therefore, both the central government and the local government system need to collaboratively share the responsibility.
Based on the proposals we have made about implementing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution;
1. We will devolve power to the Provincial Councils as per the Constitution. The powers of the Provincial Councils that come under Schedule 1, which are now vested under the Central Government will be devolved backto the Provincial Councils.
2. The decision of vestingpolice powers to Provincial Councils will be decided by the new Parliament.
3. The powers given under Schedule 3 that are approved by the party leaders will be given to the Provincial Councils.
Provincial Councils will be given the power over the following areas;
* School education
* Vocational training
* Degree awarding institutions (with the ability to upgrade to university level later, if necessary)
* Provincial tourism promotion
* Agriculture modernization
Required laws will be passed regarding the above.
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