Yes, we can!… President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Election Manifesto
Continued from Saturday, August 31
We will be taking measures to establish District Development Committees. Every community irrespective of the fact they are Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Malay, Indigenous or other, will have the right to act independently with a sense of justice as members of one nation despite different views. New laws will be formulated to devolve powers from the Central Government to Provincial Councils and Local Government Authorities.
It is expected to change the local government system in the year 2025. We will restructure the present Urban Councils and upgrade them to Municipal Councils. A system where power is executed through Pradeshiya Sabhas and Municipal Councils shall be introduced.
Let’s make Sri Lanka Win
Several key reforms need to be made in order to rebuild the countryto make the future stronger.
I will give the Parliament the responsibility of drafting a new Constitution within a year after the forthcoming Parliamentary Election following the Presidential Election.
The new Parliament will need to decide whether or not to abolish the Executive Presidency.
* A New Election System
The new Parliament will introduce a new election procedure based on the recommendations presented by the Commission headed by the retired Chief Justice Priyasath Dep in making the election reforms.
The political parties in Europe are following systems of high standards in maintaining transparency. We will introduce new rules and regulations regarding election expenditure and other activities of political parties.
* Parliamentary Standards Act
Parliamentary Standards Act will come into force and it will contain sections enabling the removal of Parliamentary Members who strongly violate the standards given in the Act.
It will enact the laws that prevent the elected representatives from doing business with the government.
* Second State Council
The Second State Council consists of representatives from the Provincial Council and the Civil Society as per the Constitutional Council Report.
This Council is responsible for supervising the execution of powers given to the Provincial Councils by the Constitution and other laws.
Empowering the Citizen
Powerful citizens are assets to a country. But, currently, we have very few rules and regulations that empower citizens. Action will be taken to introduce new laws and agencies that are targeting empowering citizens.
* Social Justice Commission
We will establish the Social Justice Commission to prevent discrimination and marginalization of citizens, with the main aim of making people’s voices heard.
* Peoples’ Initiative Act
One of the main methods where people’s sovereignty is exercised, is through voting, which takes place at the Presidential, Parliamentary and Provincial Council election levels.
Peoples’ Initiative Act will further enable citizens to submit proposals to the Parliament. In this manner, citizens could be directly involved in the law and policy-making process of the country. This Act will further strengthen democracy practised in the country.
* Jana Sabha
The aim of Jana Sabha is to have the active participation of provincial and rural communities in the decision-making process. Currently, several pilot projects are being implemented in this regard. We will establish Jana Sabhas with representatives from the 50,000 villages in the country dispersed throughout 14,002 Grama Niladhari Divisions.
Let Us Build a New Country!
This plan of action is to make Sri Lanka victorious, not to uphold a party or a single person.
For, Ranil represents neither a party, nor a person, but the whole nation.
A Sri Lanka, without racial, religious, linguistic or any other differences.
This is our future.
Come, join him in this mission of making the motherland win.
Together we can build our nation…our future.
Yes, we can!
Ranil will win this election. There is absolutely no doubt.
Two years ago, we witnessed sadness everywhere. We saw people languishing in queues for essential needs. Homes were in the dark, there was no electricity. People couldn’t even engage in their jobs. Everyone had economic difficulties.
But today, we see a country that smiles. A country illuminated with light and hope. A country where people can earn a living and live freely.
Who brought this change? Ranil. Yes, Ranil.
Ranil is a leader who knows how to face challenges. He finishes what he starts. He does not give up mid-way. He has always been like that. He talks less, and he acts with precision.
It was twenty-three years ago he envisioned giving freehold deeds to people and did the ground work. He strove to make it a reality all these years. The Presidents before him never permitted the proposal, but Ranil never gave up. Today, people not only get the rights of ownership to the lands but also the houses.
Therefore, it is crystal clear that it is only Ranil who can elevate our country to a higher standard, it is only him who can make our lives better. Ranil, and Ranil alone.
When other candidate fight over the Presidency, Ranil is far removed from the battle. For, he has no fight against individuals. His fight is against poverty, unemployment and malnourishment.
He is not fighting for a position. He is in the midst of a struggle to make the lives of the youth better.
Ranil is fighting to bring victory to our motherland. His battle is to make Sri Lanka a developed nation, that is a pleasure to live in.
That is why Ranil will win this election. That is why Ranil will remain unbeatable.
He believes we can.
Yes, we can!
(Concluded)
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