Don’t use ‘His Excellency’ when reference is made to me – President Sirisena

Monday, 2 February 2015 00:50 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The President stressed that the epithet ‘His Excellency’ should not proceed his name when any reference is made to him. Likewise, when referring to his wife, the term ‘First Lady’ should be avoided. The President should be referred to as ‘Mr. Maithripala Sirisena’ while his wife should be referred to as ‘Mrs. Maithripala Sirisena’, President Maithripala Sirisena stressed on Saturday (31) in an interview with a state television channel.

Although there are several President’s houses around the country, the President said that he does not intend using President’s House in Fort, other than for State functions, while outstation President’s Houses will be used for State functions in the provinces, pending a final decision regarding their use in a productive manner. He will only use the Anuradhapura President’s House but will not reside in it. He also pointed out that at the forthcoming General Election the UPFA and the UNP will contest separately but after the conclusion of the election, in a bid to form a national government, these two parties will join together. It is expected that this will set an example to other countries too, the President said. President also emphasised that an order placed by the previous Government for a new aircraft to be used by the President has been revoked and instead the money would be utilised to buy spare parts for the aircraft of SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka which would be merged. He further said that the aircraft, at an estimated cost of $ 16 million, was to be paid for from Treasury funds and the decision to halt the purchase was taken in consultation with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The President also said he had instructed that schoolchildren should not be brought to functions attended by him because he had observed schoolchildren being forced to spend hours in the scorching heat till the President had arrived at various ceremonies. President Sirisena said that his family members would not be using helicopters unless they were accompanying him and he too would be using them only for official purposes, if required. President Sirisena said that the contents of the interview with the media organisation should be considered as orders and should be adhered to.

Ranil assures national government after General Election

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced that the current Parliament will be dissolved after the 23 April General Elections are held in order to form a new Parliament. Speaking at a meeting with United National Party organisers in Kandy on Saturday, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe explained the future plans of the Government.

He said the UNP will contest the elections independently and form a National Government with President Maithripala Sirisena led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. “We will contest for that (general elections) independently. After that we will all unite and create a national government together with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party,” he said. “There is no doubt whatsoever about a unity government,” the Prime Minister asserted. He told the UNP members to organise and work hard to establish a UNP Government at the upcoming parliamentary elections. The Prime Minister said the days-old Government has given lots of benefits and relief to the people through the Interim Budget presented in Parliament on Thursday. “We aim to give an equal helping hand to everyone in the country regardless of their political affiliations to prosper economically,” Wickremesinghe said adding that the people want this country to be cleansed. “Today, people want to resurrect the country from this destructive path, and lead it in a novel direction,” he said. Referring to the interim budget, he said, after a long time, a budget beneficial to 99% of the population, was presented by the new government of President Maitripala Sirisena. “In the previous budgets, people were heaped with tax burdens. Like village people, the middle class people also had to endure difficulties in living. Village economy collapsed. Yet, one percent of the population prospered with all kinds of benefits and concessions. There are numerous problems confronting the country. First of all, we have to quench the hunger of people,” he said. Wickremesinghe said the new government cancelled three licenses ssued for Casino business. “I wish good luck for anyone becoming millionaires through hard work, be they from our party or any other party. But, I do not condone anyone plundering the wealth of the country to become rich,” the Prime Minister said. For the restoration of good governance, he said, action had been taken to introduce constitutional amendments. “I thank you all for opening up the new path. Let’s work for the victory of our party at the next election. Then, we can ensure a bright future for our children,” Wickremesinghe added.