President’s challenging journey ahead

“I am not a magician,” was the catchphrase in the speech made yesterday by newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. It was part of the brief speech he made soon after taking oaths as the country’s ninth Executive President before Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya. The speech struck the right note with the new President reaching out to all citizens irrespective of whether they voted for him or not and underscoring the important point that change cannot be achieved by an individual but can only become a reality if the public extended their support and cooperation.

The new President understands the enormity of the responsibility that lies on his shoulders as the country’s new head of state. He is well aware that people’s expectations are sky-high, and they are craving for quick results. The reality is that there is no quick fix for the country’s problem. It’s the bitter truth that the public, especially those who voted for the NPP candidate, have to bear in mind. 

The President has to first deliver on his promise to dissolve Parliament after appointing a cabinet of his choice. Even though both he and his party members promised a dissolution within 24 hours, reality has already set in, and they are finding out that making promises on the political platform is one thing, but delivering on such promises is another.

Following the procedures laid down by the Constitution are time-consuming and there is no room to side-step them. Hence appointing a cabinet, dissolving parliament, etc. have to be done in a step-by-step manner so they don’t face future legal challenges.

The President had a busy first day in office yesterday. After a simple swearing in ceremony at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo, he held a meeting with the heads of the armed forces and senior police officers before making his first appointment as President. It was that of Secretary to the President.

This was followed by the appointment of the secretaries to the Ministry of Defence (a retired Air Force Officer), and Ministry of Public Security (a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police). 

The three appointments the President has made so far of Secretary to the President, Defence Secretary, and Public Security Ministry Secretary are being questioned already.

All appointments are of party loyalists, and it does not augur well for the champions of system change. Ideally such appointees should have come from among members of Sri Lanka Administrative Service and other related services. It is hoped that the other secretarial appointments made by the President will draw more from within the Government services.

Siritunga Jayasuriya, a fellow Presidential candidate with Anura Kumara Dissanayake struck a word of caution yesterday at a press conference saying that the honeymoon period that the new President will enjoy will last no longer than three months given the high expectations of the public. Though too early in the day to judge the new President, such words of caution need to be heeded.

To his credit President Dissanayake is an unassuming and humble man whose first 48 hours in office has helped win over many of his detractors. He has shown none of the arrogance and attitude of many of his predecessors which will stand him in good stead.

By saying he is not a magician, the President is asking for patience and understanding from the public as he begins to navigate the turbulent waters of the presidency. He has overcome many personal challenges to reach the highest position in the land and the public ought to give him their fullest support to achieve his objective of building a prosperous and happy nation.