His Excellency, the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, heralding a new vision and a mission for Sri Lanka, took oaths Friday (19) morning for his 2nd term of office, during a dignified ceremony, amidst religious observances and Seth Pirith chanting, military honours, cultural spectacles and drumming displays.
The swearing-in ceremony at the Presidential Secretariat premises, graced by the First Lady Mrs Shiranthi Rajapaksa and three sons, was witnessed by a mammoth gathering of distinguished religious leaders, foreign statesmen and delegates, including the President of Maldives, Prime Minister of Bhutan, diplomats, Ministers and Parliamentarians, Secretaries, Tri-service chiefs, state officials, invitees and thousands of National flag waving Sri Lankans who thronged the venue from every corner of the country.
President Rajapaksa who is also the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces was sworn in before Chief Justice Asoka De Silva after his allegiance to the Constitution was read out. Most Ven Udugama Sri Buddarakkitha, Maha Nayaka Thero of Asgiriya Chapter administered five precepts (pansil) at the inauguration as members of the Maha Sangha joined in for blessings when the President Rajapaksa, accompanied by Mr Lalith Weerathunge, Secretary to the President and Tri-service chiefs arrived at the special dais as the clock was ticking away the auspicious minute.
Seconds after the swearing-in, the colourful troops of the Tri-services accorded the Presidential salute in honour of the Head of the State as 21 military gun salutes began to reverberate. The august assembly had then the chance of listening to the new President. His address as the fifth President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the Nation afterwards took the centre of stage after his assumption of office, just a day after his 65th birthday.
President Rajapaksa in his historic address to the nation resolutely pledged to bring the country to its previous glory and vowed to take the country on the path of development to make the motherland, the wonder in Asia.
‘National unity, reconciliation and durable peace, as we all know, are essential ingredients to stable development in the country, and in the absence of them, development cannot survive. Therefore, we should not leave room for any resurrection of those separatist agendas. It is always better to quell poverty and its root causes, than suppressing a riot. By 2012, we are planning to give electricity to each and every household and elevate this country to a unique level in the global map’, the President declared.
‘In our ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ manifesto in 2005, we identified 16,000 poverty-stricken villages across the country and those villages are now fast receiving a new reawakening and facelift. The country is reaching an unprecedented economic growth after the eradication of divisive forces that plagued the country for so many years as more and more modern cities are coming up. Surrounding those newly constructed and upcoming five ports in progress, power plants and mega industries, a new economic boom is inevitable. I do not think Sri Lanka is small any longer as it was known. It has created history in many spheres. I am determined to free the country of underworld, crimes, illicit drugs and corruption and let our nation while standing on its feet firm, reach new heights in development and self-respect. We are a nation that has tolerated differing views for generations, irrespective of political ideologies or different stances’, the President added.
President Rajapaksa on his way back after the swearing-in ceremony unexpectedly, took time off to receive greetings from a section of the crowd that has been attending the ceremony premises. He greeted them warmly as cheering crowds began rushing towards him.
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