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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday emphasised that a comprehensive economic policy framework aimed at addressing the deeper structural issues within the economy will be implemented this year.
President Dissanayake said the Government is aiming at ending nepotism, the abuse of power against the people and creation of political elites that prioritises personal interests over the public good.
“We are committed to a political culture aligned with the aspirations of the people,” he said.
The President was speaking at the inauguration of the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday morning.
“Over the past year, we achieved some stability on the surface level of the economy and officially emerged from bankruptcy in the latter half of the year. This progress is owed to the immense efforts of officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank, and the political leadership,” he said.
The President also said that Police, intelligence services and the Armed Forces acted decisively to maintain the national security and instill public trust when reports surfaced regarding a potential attack in Arugam Bay.
“We have also begun systematically reinstating the rule of law, which had been neglected for far too long. He recollected how criminals, corrupt individuals and even political authorities operated above the law, disregarding constitutional principles”. The President also stressed that a concerted effort is required to eliminate corruption which has become an cancer spreading throughout the country.
“The Attorney General’s Department has a critical role to play in this endeavour and I trust they will perform their duties with the necessary diligence and support.
He stressed that Government institutions should act with the dedication required to achieve this transformation.“As political leaders, we are committed to setting an example through both our words and actions,” he added.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that the success of the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative depends solely on the active participation of the public.
However, leadership and intervention from the political sphere alone will not suffice. Relevant State institutions must understand their responsibilities and contribute actively to this process of change.
He added that Government will focus on eradicating poverty in the country through the upcoming budget.
“With the upcoming budget, we aim to steer economic programmes toward the eradication of poverty in our nation. Our second goal is to embrace digital transformation,”he said.
The President also said that the government will minimise inefficiency and corruption by establishing a foundation for digitalisation while enabling citizens to interact seamlessly and effectively with State mechanisms.
The third major initiative is the “Clean Sri Lanka” project. This endeavour goes beyond merely cleaning up the environment. It aspires to restore the deeply eroded and deteriorated social and environmental fabric of our motherland. We aim to create cleanliness and rejuvenation across all sectors of society.
He added that it is essential to heal the society and introduce a new system of values and principles. “Under the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative, we aim to establish these new values and systems. Minimising road accidents is a priority. To achieve this, my trust lies first and foremost in the citizens rather than the law. Citizen participation and engagement are vital. If citizens fail to comply, we are prepared to enforce the law.
Furthermore, it is essential to address the concerns of our citizens regarding the safety and quality of the food they purchase from the market. As a State, it is our responsibility to provide food that is free from harmful substances.
