News

Ranil shows the way in a little booklet

By Chandani Kirinde, Pic by Sanka Vidanagama.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s vision for the future of Sri Lanka contained in a booklet to be released to the public on Monday embodies the creation of a post of Executive Prime Minister answerable to Parliament and the judiciary and a scaled-down presidency.

Mr.Wickremesinghe told reporters that what the country needs is a system that provides for the future of its citizens and not for the future of politicians only.

Ranil Wickremesinghe announcing the release of his book at a news conference at Cambridge Place yesterday.

The booklet titled, ‘Future challenges’, will be released to the public with the intention of initiating a public debate. “I want to create a public debate on the issues I have raised in the post-war context and listen to what others have to say about them. We need to move away from divisive politics that the country has been plagued with for so many years,” he said.

The Opposition Leader advocates the holding of Parliamentary, Provincial Council and Local Government elections on the same day and the terms of office of those elected to be limited to five years. Mr.Wickremesinghe said this was meant to stop waste of public funds as well as resources by holding polls at different times.

He also said there was a need to put a stop to rampant corruption that exists today and Sri Lanka must start by ratifying the UN Convention against corruption and use the example of a country that has tackled the problem effectively and seek its assistance to deal with the problem here.

He also spelt out plans to raise the living standards of the people by about 50 per cent, move towards a self sufficient economy, explore new avenues for development as well as find quick relief to the people within two years.

“Many countries that were lagging behind Sri Lanka have moved far ahead of us. We only have the garment industry, while other countries have diversified to various other industries. We need to do that as well,” the Opposition Leader said.

He also said radical changes needed to be made in the education system and a ten year plan would be put into action with the aim of creating the best education system in the whole of Asia. The plan included making education compulsory from Grade 1 to 11, while taking steps to give better training to teachers.

 
Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
 
Other News Articles
One million more voters for Presidential poll
Health officials rush to the hills
Freedom for IDPs but criticism and confusion
Lanka editor in trouble again
Freedom Party
Talk at the Cafe Spectator
Bogus operators take jobless youth for a ride
No arrest yet in beheading incident
Insurance co. sues SLC: Case on Feb. 10
Roar of protest over facelift plan for Dehiwala Zoo
Fears that EU monitors may not be allowed at upcoming elections
Gang attacks Ravi’s felicitation ceremony
New SLS Standard for disabled-friendly buildings
Money down the drain in lagoon project
Leak in bund causes concern to farmers
Cop takes law into his hands
Baby elephant abduction: Vet. granted bail
Detection of lorry-load of dhal reveals pilfering racket from IDP stores?
Tamil parties search for common policy and platform in Swiss capital
Ranil shows the way in a little booklet
Slaves of the modern age: Migrant workers bought and sold for a song
Shyamal’s family hires private investigators to probe death
Saving Planet Earth – practical training for our future leaders
Unions threaten stronger action next time around
Uncertain weather over next couple of weeks
Villagers pray for a community hall
N’ Eliya road a ‘mess’

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 2009 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved.| Site best viewed in IE ver 6.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution