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My beautiful Sri Lanka is blessed with MS

It is quite interesting in one’s life to work for the largest and biggest life insurance company of the world named Life Insurance Corporation of India which is having 300 Million policy holders. The number is more than the population of most of the countries in the world (Virtually 4th country as per population after China, India and USA). It becomes even more interesting when you already have served the Company for more than 20 years as a direct recruit officer and you are deputed to an overseas/foreign assignment in a beautiful country called Sri Lanka. This is what happened to me in January 2013, to be specific on the 22nd of January 2013, when I took a Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Mumbai to Colombo.

President Sirisena with fitness enthusiasts

It was a well thought decision to fly in the National Airline of Sri Lanka, to have a first hand experience from the very beginning of the journey. The flight touched down in the wee hours of the morning and after disembarking the aircraft, I touched my forehead to the ground and made a promise that I will be serving this country and its peopleduring my stay. This promise was made because I was going to consume the Lunu (salt) of this country. In India we always say to be loyal of whom you have tasted the salt. Anyhow, that morning, I along with my family saw the first sunrise in the country where we were going to spend a couple of years of our life. The country which has seen a 30 year long war and was finally ended by former President.

A few days passed and when I was scanning the newspapers, it took some time for me to understand that anything is possible here.The time went on, I could get a chance to travel across the Island and experience the beauty of the country because LIC Lanka Ltd. has Branch offices across the Island. As I was engulfed in my official duties and responsibilities, then came the day, 8th of January 2015, when the country elected a new President named Maithripala Sirisena.

Now, I have 2 ½ years of experience to learn about the country and pen it down also.

Background

Here comes a President who is from a humble agricultural background, a very down to earth person who would not misuse his position or power for his own personal gains or work on whims and fancies. The person who has come to serve the people and the country.

Here is a President who has not opted to stay in a luxurious palatial house and instead opted for simple living, following the philosophy to simple living-high thinking thereby making it amply clear that he is not the master but the servant of the people. Despite being in a position to have a number of chefs at his beck and call, the President prefers home cooked food prepared by his better half.

You will never find a President in the world who will have a morning walk with ordinary citizens of the country. During his morning walk, he spares time to shake hands and speak with the people and don’t hesitate to be photographed with them and also oblige gracefully to take a selfie with the public. While he has a morning walk, there are many followers who take pride that they are having a morning walk with a companion who is none other than the President of the country. Such experience is yet to be seen in the world.

Here is a President who without having security around (Z+ Security in India) will go to a shoe store on the road on his way. Rarely do we find this type of simplicity in the world history.

Here is a President who doesn’t crave for the position or power. Hence, declared that he would not be contesting the next Presidential election and live as an ex-President of the country. His visit to the family of rape victim of Kytes Island would have given extraordinary consolation to the bereaved family; another example of his concern for the ordinary citizen.

The President has also shown his statesmanship for getting the 19th Amendment passed. For achieving this feat he has probably already registered his name in golden letters in the history of Sri Lanka. Amicably sorting out the issue of Chief Justice of Sri Lanka and installation of Honourable K. Sripavan as the Chief Justice is also another feather in his cap.

We do not know whether the 20th Amendment will happen because parliament has already been dissolved. Hopefully the president will get it through by following the middle path. Whatever is the outcome of the elections; but surely, the President is likely to steer the Government by the dint of his high degree of statesmanship and the ‘Yahapalana’ movement.

Simplicity

Because of my experience and movements during the past 2 ½ years stay in the beautiful Sri Lanka, I feel that my beautiful Sri Lanka is blessed with Maithripala Sirisena. Salutes to him for his simplicity. Best wishes for the “Yahapalana”.

Concerns regarding the security of the President are of utmost importantce. Even the tightest security was never able to save some of the most powerful VIPs or VVIPs of the world. President should be careful because his life is very precious for the country.

Feedback on my pen is welcome at [email protected]

- Harvinder Singh
General Manager (Mktg. & Oprns) LIC Lanka Ltd.