THIS IS THE FIRST NATIONAL DAY being able to celebrate without threat of terrorism after 30 years. I am happy to state that the freedom has now dawned to hoist the National Flag proudly across the whole of Sri Lanka as it unfurls in high skies. 

I am also equally happy to address you from the land where Ven. Wariyapola Sumangala Thero raised our National Flag after bringing down the Union Jack in 1815. Even today I remember the Ven. Members of the Sangha with great veneration. Let me also pay our tribute to members of the Sangha who dedicated themselves for the freedom of the country. 

I also remember the War Heroes who sacrificed their lives for the sake of freedom and sovereignty and all those parties who worked for the same as well as all civilians of the country when I hoisted the National Flag.

Friends, freedom means a responsibility. The people of this country trusted me and offered me a great responsibility on 26th January 2010 with a thumping majority more than what was given at the Presidential election in 2005. Our people added a sense of gratitude to the politics of this country on 26th January and showed the world that the motherland rises above all for the first, second and third time. Now, our country’s politics is rich with quality of gratitude. It is a blessed fortune to fight for the protection of freedom of the country together with such grateful people. It is equally fortune to live in a country where such intelligent people are living. It is also fortunate to become the Head of State of a country where mothers, fathers, daughters and sons who nourish gratitude.          

I who united the country geographically have the responsibility to knit all the hearts of our communities together and I accept that great challenge of uniting the all ethnicities in the country. On the day our motherland received freedom Rt. Hon. D.S. Senanayeka said that the freedom is there to reduce the sufferings and improve the comfort and their ability. That is the wish of the entire nation.

We have to bring more freedom than what we have received on 4th February 1948. We were able to make last 4 years the most fruitful 4 years after Independence.  This is the time for us to reap the benefits of uniting the motherland. The end of the War not only saved the nation on expenditure for the War. The researches done by international magazines tell that Sri Lanka is at the forefront among 30 best countries to visit for tourism.

Friends, now Sri Lanka is considered as the fastest growing country in Asia after China and it is among one of the best counties for investments. Our country achieved these victories within less than 8 months after the War because we developed the infrastructure in the country speedily. Now I use the verdict given to me to bring back what the motherland has lost due to 30 years of War. We must rapidly carry forward the country which lags behind due to War.  Peace alone is not enough. We must build a fast and efficient country, instead of lazy and non-working country. It is useless to talk about the efficiency and speed of other countries and blame the Nation. We have proved that our people also can go ahead on par with those countries by achieving a great victory. In national development sphere, I trust not only the public sector but also the private sector. The private sector which remained on attention to War can now stand at ease. What I expect is a government service which can make quick decisions and implement them with a good governance and make the government service a real public service.

I protected the commanders who fought for the country and appeared on behalf of them everywhere. I appear for any honoust, the talented and people who can work for the country, government servants and all others in building the country and I standby them. The country cannot be developed by punishments, harassment or by marshal law. The discipline does not mean revenge. I believe that the country can be developed only by being disciplined, dedicated work and serving without corruption and cheating.

In “Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma” we said that Sri Lanka could be made a centre for five great powers of naval, air, commercial, energy and knowledge. In the future we would bring economic, social and political benefits of them to you. We must end the age of crying and weeping. We must give more opportunities for artists in the country to perform their literary musical and dancing roles and give those benefits of entertainment to people.

We are dedicated to build a country to which the people can come back happily instead of leaving it due to death threats and poverty. We must remove not only barriers on the road but also the administrative barriers which obstruct the economic prosperity. I always request local and foreign powers not to take our motherland and it’s people for a ride or lightly.

We removed the fear of death from northern and eastern areas and started a large historic development. Not only that launched development projects in the entire country. “Negenehira Navodaya” and “Uthuru Wasanthaya” are some of the biggest development projects in the country. Do you know that northern and eastern had suffered for 30 years without democracy? Our biggest victory recently was that we were able to give them democracy. I believe that with a solution empowering all citizens in the country including those in the north and east, we would be able to rise above. After discussing with the leaders of the people of those areas we can give a solution according to “Mahinda Chinthana”.

As you know our foreign policy is an independent and non-aligned policy. We have cordial relations with neighboring countries such as India, China and Japan. We also have close relations with Asian, African and Middle-Eastern countries. What I did in the foreign policy was for the benefit of the people of my country. I must think about my country above everything. I believe the world should take a correct understanding of us. The Tiger terrorism that affected internationally was over and the warlike situation is over. We have reached an inter dependent age finishing controversial situations arising in some occasions as the golden era of international relations in the country has how come.

Friends, I never took or take any decisions to betray the country for the sake of hanging on to power. Most decisions on defeat of LTTE terrorism were taken thinking about the country’s interests. I did not consider about political power when taking decisions about the country. As you know, Norochchole power plant, upper Kothmale power project, Hambanthota harbor and even when taking international assistance I never thought about political power and thought only about the development of the country. We never betray to even an inch of the country. We are not ready to take back even one step to hang on to power and ready to take even ten steps forward facing any difficulty for the sake of the country.

 My legs got worn-out by walking with the masses in giant “Pada Yathra” campaigns in Sri Lanka. I sweated by fighting for the rights of labor community. My voice was formed by shouting demanding justice against injustice. The people of this country know that I took respite while listening to worries of the common people. If I was away from the masses it was only when I was in jail for fighting for the democratic rights of the people as I can remember. Wherever we lived, it became a home for the masses. I must remind you that the carpets in “Temple Trees” welcome your footholds and treasure them. 

I never ask you to crown me. But I must tell you that I crowned the freedom, prosperity and heroism as a crown on your heed and your children’s. In recent times I understood the fatherly love shown to me by your daughters and sons and it was a great blessing for me. Our Hero Keppetipola faced the death for freedom instead of betraying the country at the same location. I believe that the leaders of this country should have hearts like Keppetipola Nilame that do not betray this country. Madduma Bandara was the son of the brother of Keppetipola. The hero prince Madduma Bandara faced death without any fear in this great meritorious land. You must remember like the heroic prince Madduma Bandara, your sons and daughters have in their hearts a great love towards the motherland now. Your sons and daughters love me due to that feeling of my reverence to the country.

I believe receipt of affection of talented the heroic young generation like you, means that I am the most fortunate Head of State.

Friends, safeguard your sons and daughters growing with love towards the country. We have to build a society where those daughters and sons can live with intelligence and virtues. We must dedicate ourselves to build our motherland as the pride of Asia for the sake of our daughters and sons.

I wish you all a Brighter Future.