• Says biggest challenge before Sri Lanka is bringing together minds of people of north and south, and through a process of econciliation bring about co-existence and national understanding

• Promises strengthening of democracy, governance and national economy

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday emphasised the urgent need for unity in its truer sense, which he said the new Government would sincerely endeavour to deliver, along with a stronger democracy and economy. Addressing the 67th Independence Day ceremony at Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, the President said: “To end the war against terror, our heroic troops were able with their guns to silence the guns of terrorism. However, the biggest challenge we face today is that of bringing together the minds of the people of the north and south, and through a process of reconciliation bring about co-existence and national understanding, and thus take our great Motherland forward as a land rich in human affection and understanding.” He also reminded everyone that in moving forward in this direction, there are many responsibilities before all. “We need to ask ourselves whether we can truly and honestly be satisfied with what we have achieved, as we celebrate this 67th anniversary of Independence." "As we look back at these 67 years of freedom, the solution to our needs does not lie in the mutual pointing of fingers at each other. It is my belief that all political parties, all political leaders who have governed this country in the past 67 years, should look back at themselves and truly study and understand one’s duties and responsibilities, and look towards the future in the discharge of such responsibilities,” the President said. He said restoration of peace and alleviation of poverty were both a major problem and challenge that Sri Lanka was facing today and one that needed necessary and compulsory change. “Accordingly, our new Government will work towards reducing the income gap among people, eliminating poverty and strengthening the national economy,” President said. “We have a strong commitment to strengthen the public service, make it non-partisan, and through the expected Constitutional changes, give more strength to Parliament, remove the unlimited powers of the executive presidency, and thus ensure the strengthening of democracy for the people. We shall definitely implement the promises made to the people,” Sirisena promised. The new Government’s clear commitment towards following a foreign policy of the middle path, in friendship with all nations, and move towards the resolution of national issues through the strengthening of international relations was also reiterated. He also said that it was necessary to fully understand the thinking and expectations of the new generations, and as a Government to take the necessary steps to help them realise these expectations. “We will clearly carry out our task of moving forward as an awakened nation, by obtaining the cooperation of all through our foreign policy of the middle path, and as a country that acts in keeping with the United Nations Charter, and its conventions,” President Sirisena said. “Therefore, while we look back at 67 years on this 67th commemoration of Independence, as a new Government, we will also look and move forward with our beloved people, with the firm dedication to build our great Motherland for the future,” the President added. See full speech >>>  

Declaration of peace Three youth picked for reading the Special Statement of Peace by the Government of Sri Lanka at the 67th Independence Day ceremony yesterday   Six years after the end of the war, the Sri Lankan Government yesterday marked Independence Day with a special Statement of Peace at the ceremony, in a bid to push forward the reconciliation effort. Soon after President Maithripala Sirisena’s address to the nation, a special peace pledge was delivered in all three languages at the 67th Independence Day ceremony. This was in line with a key recommendation by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) in its 2011 report. See Page 2 for the full text of the declaration was as follows: Today our beloved nation is at a moment of unprecedented opportunity. Terrorism and violence have ended. The time and peace required for healing and building sustainable peace and security for all, is upon us. It is now for us to seize this opportunity to ensure the fruits of democracy and citizenship can be equitably enjoyed by all. As we commemorate the 67th Independence Day of our nation today, we pay our respects to all the citizens of this country, of all ethnicities and religions, who lost their lives due to the tragic conflict that affected this land for over three decades, and for all the victims of violence since Independence. On this solemn occasion we pledge to adopt consensual approaches through democratic means, to advance national interest, national reconciliation, justice and equality for all citizens. We shall do this in a spirit of tolerance, accommodation and compromise and uphold the unity and territorial integrity of the nation for the progress and development of our pluralistic society. We pledge to protect freedom and democracy, promote amity, cooperation between the diverse communities in this country, and at all times strive to walk the path of peace. We pledge our collective commitment to ensure that never again will we allow for this land to be traumatised by the shedding of blood of her citizens.

Exemplary unity: leading the way >>>