Cabinet posts on ability, not the number of preferential votes, says President Rajapaksa
Colombo, 27 March, (Asiantribune.com):
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the country needs efficient people to govern. Addressing a public rally he emphasized that it would not be the number of votes garnered which would decide the fate of a candidate when it came to deciding the future ministerial positions, but their ability, commitment and productivity.
“I prefer a Parliament which could work more than talk. As such I would not hesitate to give pride of place to persons who could deliver desired results effectively when fulfilling people’s wishes,” President Rajapaksa said.
The President made these statements addressing a public rally in Welimada held in support of candidates contesting the April 8 Parliamentary polls under the UPFA banner.
President Rajapaksa said that the people’s first duty was to ensure victory for the ‘betel’ leaf.
“A vote for “Betel” leaf is a vote for me and then you have three Preferences. Use all three and appoint candidates of your choice,” he added.
The President also stated that a number of projects which would Benefit them were in the pipeline.
Already Rs 8 million has been allocated to solve the drinking water problems in the area and numerous other facilities to the farming community of the area too is in the offing, he added.
- Asian Tribune -
Comments
It sounds a message of
It sounds a message of caution to those candidates who display banners and cut outs with President MR in the background. The common slogan in almost all such banners and cut outs is that all such candidates are seeking the support of the voters to strengthen President's hands. Why do they have to strengthen President's hands? Is he handicapped? Disabled?. None of them appear to have realized that President MR does uses his head and not the hands but many of them have proved that they have strong hands by sending their opponents to hospitals or land of the dead.
Almost all the banners and cut outs have slogans portraying the candidates as pioneers of clean politics. A candidate, who does not allow candidates from other parties to canvass in Kelaniya, calls himself a pioneer of clean politics. So is another who is still facing inquiry on embezzlement of public funds amounting to Rs. 500-million, for "building the nation". Yet another one is showing his muscular arms in the midst of thin and starved old men and women.
There are many candidates who claim that their campaigns are environment friendly. If they mean that they are not using posters, banners and cut outs they have a point. Yet little the voters realize most of these candidates destroy the environment when they are in power by permitting and protecting illegal felling of trees, clearing of forests, reclamation of land and permitting crimes and protecting the offenders and so on. There is another, who is involved in proven plagiarism by trying being an expert on climate change and GHG emissions with the help of research done by others and information down loaded from internet. May be he thought that he could outsmart the present Minister of Environment, who has a Second Upper in Engineering, with his secondary school certificate.
During a visit to Galle to meet the classmates at the “Battle of Lovers”, Galle Gamarala was shocked to see the destruction done by these candidates to the structures of the newly constructed walkway on the sea side of the Marine Drive. Some of those are old boys of Galle Gamarala's old school. Galle Gamarala appeals to all citizens of Galle not to vote for any candidate who has destroyed the beautiful walkway, which was constructed at a cost of Rs. 80-million, by pasting posters. This brings another issue for serious consideration. Elections Commissioner has given Rs. 22-million to the Police for removing posters, banners and cut outs displayed at public places.
Voters of Sri Lanka!
This Rs. 22-million belongs to us. It is public money. What kind of public service can you expect from candidates, whether they be from UPFA, UNP, DNA or any party, who cause wasting of Rs. 22-million public funds before they are elected?
How much the election campaigns of these candidates, who try to take the voters of this country for a ride, cost and where the funds for the campaigns come from nobody knows. According to the Commissioner of Elections he can take action on those who submit their declarations of assets and liabilities at the time of handing over nominations. After the elections the EC is responsible for declarations of losing candidates, who are not interested in filing same within 3-months after the elections. The winners become the responsibility of the Secretary General of Parliament, who is not interested in publishing the names of MPs who do not declare their assets and liabilities annually.
So much so for the President MR's wish for the prosperous future with candidates who seek peoples’ mandate to strengthen President's hands.
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