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| Sunday, 20 November 2005 |
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President sworn in President Mahinda Rajapakse was sworn in as the fifth Executive President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka by Chief Justice Sarath N. de Silva at a solemn but colourful ceremony at the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo yesterday afternoon. Speaker of Parliament W.J.M Lokubandara, Members of the Cabinet of Ministers, Leaders of the UPFA and other political parties, distinguished guests and officials were present. President Rajapakse addressing the distinguished gathering outlined in brief the policies his government would follow to realise the pledges given in the Mahinda Chintana or his election manifesto. A new set of budget proposals based on the Mahinda Chintanaya will be brought before Parliament, he said. "I am not the master but the trustee of the country", he said promising to serve all without discriminating against anyone on the grounds of politics, colour, race or religion. He appealed to the UNP and its leader to support the new peace initiative of his government. He promised to substitute the bipartisan approach to peace with a new multi-party approach, which will accommodate the interests of all stakeholders. He also declared his intention to revise and update the existing ceasefire to overcome its defects. He pledged to institute good governance and maintain law and order. Promising no state interference in religion the President appealed to the clergy of all religions to help bring up children and adults as good, cultured citizens. On the economic front the President pledged to initiate a program of rapid economic development that will use all positive features of the free market system while giving pride of place to local entrepreneurs to develop agriculture, industry and services. After the conclusion of the swearing in ceremony the President inspected a Guard of Honour accorded by the three forces, which was followed by a 21-gun salute to the new President. ############ Lalith Scretary to the President Prime Minister's Secretary until last morning Lalith Weeratunga has been appointed Secretary to President Mahinda Rajapakse. Weeratunga graduated in Natural Sciences at the Colombo University and post graduated in Business Administration at the same University. Secretary Weeratunga who entered the Sri Lanka Administrative Service in 1977 has worked as Acting and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Education and Higher Education Ministry additional secretary and in several other posts in a number of ministries. He has also worked in several foreign countries and is also a Hubert H. Humphrey fellow of the Pennsylvania State university, USA. He has also authored two study manuals; 'Managing people' and 'Managing organizations'. |
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