“The magnitude of our victory is the same as the weight of the responsibility that comes with it” – President Anura Dissanayake’s address to the new Cabinet
The results of this election reflect the appeal of the oppressed people for the freedom they needed; the victory of the National People’s Power is excellent, and the weight of responsibility this victory brings to the National People’s Power is identical, emphasizes President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
He emphasized this while addressing the ministers appointed after the swearing-in of the new Cabinet, which was held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (18).
President Dissanayake said, “We all know that a decisive turning point in Sri Lankan politics occurred on September 21. The people decided on September 21 to decisively change the path our country had been travelling on for a long time. In the parliamentary elections held after that. the people of this country have put their faith in us, further strengthening the decision taken on September 21.
We all know that the people of our country participated enthusiastically and vigorously in this new transformation. In the history of Sri Lanka, the political map was constantly drawn as the politics of the South against the North, and the politics of the North against the South. The politics developed suspicion, mistrust and anger among each group. However, this election shows that the politics of division is no longer valid for our country. This year’s general election consolidated the aspirations of the North, South, East and West people in one centre.
We thank those enthusiastic people who worked hard to give a solid mandate for the National People’s Power. Even for those who didn’t vote for us or voted for another political movement, it is inevitable that these tasks and goals that we expect will become their goals as well. No citizen of Sri Lanka will believe in the politics of division. Also, I don’t think any citizen in Sri Lanka believes in shrinking democracy. These good things are ingrained in every citizen. As such, those who voted for us have proclaimed those good things through voting. The people who did not vote also have the same desired goals. Therefore, there are no two groups in this country: one happy and one shocked by this election. We, the National People’s Power, need the support and trust of all these people in achieving the desired goals of this country. Even after our victory in the presidential election, we have shown how to peacefully establish democracy in this country and how to respect the political rights of others.
It is a new experience for the people of this country. However, that experience is an experience that every citizen of our country has expected. Also, after the general election and during the election period, our administration gave us the opportunity to hold the most peaceful election in the history of Sri Lanka. It is a right of our people. Moreover, this election is historic. There are many distinctive features in this election. Quantitatively, it is the most significant victory achieved in a general election in the history of Sri Lanka.
On the other hand, it is a victory that people can be happy about. How did we and our citizens get such a victory? Our country needs those changes. We have seen that whenever our country got various kinds of victories, it was a common feature that the other side or the defeated was made to feel humiliated and hurt. However, we have permanently created a new political culture for our country since the election. We have continued this after the general election as well.
Events may occur. At one point, peaceful democracy can exist. At other times, there may be conflict situations. But they become permanent only by repeated occurrences. Therefore, the doors we open for this democracy and our obligation to protect the democratic rights of the citizens become mere incidents if they are limited to only two. But if we always preserve its integrity, they will not become mere incidents. Therefore, in this democracy, it is our responsibility to continuously protect the citizen’s rights and bring them to a higher level of quality. It is an essential responsibility of our government.
Notably, Sri Lankans living abroad provided us with remarkable support, enthusiasm, and courage during this election campaign. In the history of our elections, the diaspora rarely demonstrated such a level of interest. Their involvement and contributions in this election surpassed all previous instances, reflecting their active participation and engagement. Even though they are outside Sri Lanka, we know they celebrated the results of this election with great joy and enthusiasm. We are profoundly grateful to them for their unwavering support. We understand that, generally, the significance of politics during an election lies in bringing our ideas and perspectives to society. In doing so, our political movement played its part, but a new generation also voluntarily took on this responsibility through social media. It is essential that we recognize the unique aspirations of this younger generation. What they showcased on social media was not merely a competition, a race, or a contest to distinguish winners from losers. Instead, it reflected their hopes and goals. Therefore, we must remain committed to these aspirations, as they are vital. We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to everyone who contributed in various ways to achieving this victory. However, there is something we must understand. The secret behind this public uprising, filled with immense hope, lies in the long-standing struggles faced by our citizens. For years, people have endured various forms of oppression. Instances where citizens felt helpless and victimized before the law were all too common. Economically, there exists a marginalized group of people who have been ignored, reduced to mere “dust” within the system. These individuals lack access to proper meals, decent housing, and opportunities for a healthy, fulfilling life, burdened by economic hardships. Moreover, professionals have faced frustrations within their fields, unable to freely apply their knowledge and skills. This has created deep-seated grievances for those struggling to perform their duties effectively. Similarly, there are communities who, based on the language they speak, the religion they follow, or their cultural identity, have experienced discrimination and alienation. These individuals have often felt isolated within Sri Lanka, considering themselves sidelined or excluded rather than being equally represented and entitled to their rights. This sense of marginalization and oppression has been pervasive, shaping the profound challenges faced by many in our country. Across every sector, people in this country have faced unique and deeply personal struggles. Even government officials tasked with upholding the law have been victims of this oppression. That is the reality. Therefore, the results of this election symbolize an invitation to freedom for those who have suffered. They longed for this freedom, driven by the need to escape the various forms of oppression they endured. These election results are an affirmation of their demand for that freedom.
We have no right to limit or restrict this freedom for our citizens. Instead, we must ensure complete freedom across all sectors. It includes granting professionals the liberty to carry out their responsibilities with their knowledge and expertise, enabling law enforcement officials to fulfil their duties in upholding law and peace, ensuring fair economic participation for all, and reaffirming every citizen’s right to live freely according to their religion, language, and cultural identity. For these reasons, Sri Lanka must move toward a renewal period. We must create a more liberated environment for the people of this country. We recognize that this victory was achieved through the immense involvement of ordinary people. Many who had no direct connection to our political mechanism, whom we had never met or spoken with, worked tirelessly on our behalf. Whether on buses, trains, workplaces, or during community events, countless individuals advocated for our victory. It is also important to remember that this victory was the result of a long struggle, spanning decades. Many among us have been committed to this dream since their youth. In this struggle, people sacrificed their time and effort and, in some cases, their very lives. During the early and most challenging phases, we worked relentlessly to protect this movement. While some left midway, even those who departed provided critical support at various stages at the beginning, in the middle, and wherever needed. Their contributions, too, have been instrumental in achieving this victory. Therefore, we have two distinct responsibilities. The first is our obligation to fulfil the goals and aspirations of the people. The second is our duty toward the movement itself. We firmly believe that power is something very significant. Power generates more power, expands its influence, and continues to grow. However, history has shown, and some argue, that power is corrupt, where unlimited power leads to unlimited corruption. It is true. Power can corrupt, and absolute power can corrupt absolutely, as has been proven repeatedly. In our country, there have been instances where such concentrated power was created. However, examining the outcomes of those powers, we see that they rarely brought justice or fairness to the people. Instead, they were often wielded in ways that harmed the nation and its citizens. Some believe unlimited power has been granted, leading to concerns about where this unrestricted power might lead. To anyone harbouring even a tiny doubt, I would say “Yes, it is true that we hold power. However, we also recognize the boundaries and limitations of this power. We understand the framework within which this power has been entrusted to us.” We all need to acknowledge that power exists but comes with constraints and a purpose. The purpose of this power lies in fulfilling the positive goals and expectations that we have promised to the people over a long period. It is a responsibility entrusted to us to use this power for the greater good and to achieve the aspirations of our citizens
The key point is that this power comes with responsibilities, on one side, a responsibility to the citizens, and on the other, a responsibility to the movement. No matter what form of power is created for us through constitutions, regulations, or other mechanisms, we must exercise it with accountability. We are accountable to the people and to the movement. This is why power cannot exist in isolation or function arbitrarily. It must be bound by responsibility and commitment. Compared to an ordinary citizen, a Member of Parliament, and even more so, a Cabinet Minister, has a greater responsibility. You all must understand this; I don’t need to explain it anew. You are aware of the boundaries and limitations of your power. You know your responsibilities and commitments, and I trust that you will safeguard them. Additionally, there’s another discussion to be had. Many of you are new to the Cabinet, and some are even new to Parliament. However, for a long time, we have all worked toward various goals on different platforms. Some of you have worked as professionals, others as political activists. While you may be new to these positions, you are not new to politics or to working for change. This gives me confidence that this Cabinet can bring new and inspiring examples to the people and deliver the victories that the country expects. If we execute our responsibilities effectively, I am confident you have the ability, the commitment, and the integrity to fulfill these tasks. I know that you are unblemished, honest, and courageous, and I firmly believe you will approach your responsibilities with sincerity. It is with this confidence that we move forward. In politics, there was a time when we worked solely to build the movement and rally people around political goals. Our slogans, campaigns, and actions were all geared toward winning power. We fought tirelessly to make our case to the citizens of this country, and the results of that effort are now evident. We have achieved political victory. However, moving forward, our work will not rely solely on political slogans. Before September 21 and November 14, our focus was on our principles and political ideologies. But from November 14 onward, the measure of our success will be the quality of governance we deliver. Previously, we were judged on the effectiveness of our political activism; now, we will be evaluated on whether our governance is good or bad. It is the new standard by which we will be measured. Therefore, in order to achieve the goals that the people expect, and to address the long-standing efforts we have made, good governance is essential. It is necessary to guide us towards our targets. Slogans or ideologies do not drive us; from today onwards, we are measured by how effectively we manage our efforts to achieve our goals. The magnitude of our success is significant, and along with it comes the weight of the responsibility entrusted to us. At times, we have said that we will fight for victory, and after that, the relevant capable teams will take the next steps. However, whether for good or bad, we have had to fight for victory. After the victory, we have become the leaders responsible for ensuring the success of that mission.
Thus, all of this lies with you. You are the centre. How capable are you of guiding your field to achieve productive results and fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to you? How successful are you in meeting your personal commitments and duties? It will determine our next success or failure. On September 21 and November 14, we made progress in two stages. As we decide whether we will succeed or not in the next phase, your role is crucial. We can only conclude this successfully if you remain committed to good governance. For this, let us work together. Let us raise our voices together.”
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