President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday (Oct. 10) admitted that the people are dissatisfied with him and the government for not fulfilling the expectations of the people.
Day by day the government acted in a manner that oppressed the people and not in a manner that would bring relief to them. The closest example is the overnight increase in gas prices. This government has not been able to control the price of gas and rice.
On the one hand, it is gratifying that the President has acknowledged this inability of the government. He had also engaged in self-criticism at the last cabinet meeting. But his behavior in this way is both suspicious and intriguing. Is it to deceive people again?
The President was speaking at the 72nd Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army. However, while acknowledging the failure of the government, the President said that he would take steps to control the current Covid epidemic and move the country forward.
He further added that there was no excuse and called on all people to support the rule of law in one country, without corruption. The president of a country is the leader who acts according to one law. He has the powers. That is what the people of the country have always demanded. But it is questionable why the President is now asking the people for it.
He also said that he would work for a new constitution and a new electoral system as promised to the people. The President further stated that corruption and fraud will not be tolerated and all officials should work for the benefit of the people.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said in a special statement that the President had acknowledged that the 20th Amendment had failed due to his statement that the Prime Minister and the Cabinet should work together as he had limited political experience.
Accordingly, what should be done now is to abolish the 20th Amendment and move the government under the 19th Amendment, he said, adding that the government should negotiate with the opposition and reach an agreement to resolve the country’s economic problems. He further said that he commended the President for declaring the 20th Amendment a failure.