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Maithris majestic manifestoDecember 20, 2014
A new country in 100 days, promises Common Candidate Maithripala
Power goes out at Viharamahadevi while Sirisena makes speech
Roadmap for abolition ofpresidency revealed
Ranil to be PM in 100-daynational Govt., then elections
Parliament to be dissolved by23 April 2015
18th Amendment out,independent commissions in
Impeached CJ Shirani Bandaranayake to be reinstated
Sirisena vows to realign foreign relations with India and Western powers if elected
All political appointments toforeign service to be cancelled, SLFS to be professionalised and reorganised
Maithri to address grievances of Colombos urban displaced for beautification drive
Hobnobs with farming community present at manifesto launch
Oppositions Common Presidential Candidate Maithripala Sirisena
presents the first copy of his manifesto to Leader of the Movement
for Social Justice Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero Pic by Shehan
GunasekeraBy Dharisha Bastians
Candidate for the common opposition Maithripala Sirisena unveiled
his roadmap for constitutional reform and pledged to deliver a new
country in 100 days, if elected as Sri Lankas eighth executive
president on 8 January 2015.
Unveiling his election manifesto for the poll that is just three
weeks away, Sirisena has pledged to scrap the 18th Amendment to the
Constitution and hold a parliamentary election under the terms of
an amended Constitution within three months of being elected.
In a bizarre twist, electricity supply to Viharamahadevi Park was
interrupted while Sirisena was giving his manifesto speech. The
connection was restored 15 minutes later, however, the common
opposition candidate continued to speak without a microphone.
Sirisenas policy document claimed he was contesting the
presidential election after renouncing ministerial portfolios held
as General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
He said he had ignored the premiership that had been dangled before
him and despite what he called the threats to his life and his
family because a tragic fate had befallen the country.
Campaigning on a platform for good governance and transparency, the
Sirisena manifesto promises to restore independent commissions to
oversee the Police, Judiciary and elections officers. The manifesto
also pledges to enact the Right to Information legislation to
ensure transparent governance.
UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe receives a copy of the manifesto
from Maithripala SirisenaAccordingly, under a Sirisena presidency
that will deal first with the parliamentary process to enact
constitutional reform, general elections for a new parliament are
to be held by 23 April 2015.
Sirisena first presented his manifesto to Leader of the Movement
for Social Justice Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero, who has been at
the forefront of organising the common opposition platform based on
constitutional reform.
He promised to reinstate ousted Chief Justice Shirani
Bandaranayake, whose removal was hotly contested on legal grounds
after a series of judgments that had gone against the ruling
Government.
Entitled Compassionate Governance, A Stable Country Maithripala
Sirisenas 63-page manifesto was released at the Viharamaha Devi
Park in Colombo yesterday, attended by an array of opposition
parties and campaign leaders.
A large section of the farming community was also invited to attend
the launch. Sirisena moved among the rural farmers after the
launch, to discuss their issues.
The common candidate hails from a farming family in the district of
Polonnaruwa.
His manifesto pledges to reset the relationship with India and
western nations if he wins the January poll.
Presenting his manifesto, Sirisena told the crowd that he would
re-negotiate the GSP Plus system for Sri Lankan exports if he is
elected. He has pledged a Rs. 10,000 salary hike for public
servants, better healthcare, agricultural subsidies and more
spending on education by the state in his manifesto.
The document contains a host of pledges on restoring law and order,
democracy and professionalising the public and foreign services.
Anti-corruption is a keystone of the common candidates campaign.
Sirisena has pledged to constitute a special anti-corruption
commission to oversee all Government projects.
He has also pledged relief to all citizens who were illegally
evicted from their houses and land under various grounds. The
property of citizens of Colombo who were deprived of their houses
and land will be reassessed and their value will be deducted from
their present housing loan, the Sirisena manifesto stated.
The president will have to provide leadership to the constitutional
amendment that is to be approved by Parliament, the Sirisena
manifesto explains. I decided to contest the presidential election
as the common candidate of the people to complete that task, he
pledged.
I have no greed for power. I am only fulfilling the historic task
entrusted to me to build and stabilise the country, the Sirisena
manifesto concludes.Posted byThavam