I will not be a dummy: Sajith

Denouncing the claim made by some that the next president of Sri Lanka would be a scarecrow as a result of the 19th Amendment to the constitution, the UNF alliance’s candidate Sajith Premadasa yesterday said he will not act like a powerless leader but will be a leader who would be working hard for the people.

Addressing an election rally in Wellawaya, Mr Premadasa said he will turn the Presidential Secretariat into a place that works 24 hours a day.

“Some say the next president of this country would become a scarecrow as a result of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution but I will not be entangled with the 19th Amendment as I will work hard for the people,” he said.

“I will make the Presidential Secretariat a place which works 24 hours a day. I will be a worker who will go fast when it comes to work and the others will have to keep up with my speed,” he added.

Mr. Premadasa said he will work with a team of able persons whose hands will be clean. “I will not give any position to those who are corrupt,” he said in this regard.

“I will create a third level of leadership in the government,” he also said.

UNF led alliance’s candidate said he will set up a presidential development task force which will carry out development work in all parts of the country. “Presidential Task Force units will be set up in every divisional secretariat and each such unit will be monitored through the e-governance programme which will be introduced,” he said.

Also, he pledged to reintroduce Janasaviya in addition to the existing Samurdhi programme.

Mr Premadasa assured people they should not be worried about the country’s security as he has already pledged that the original war hero, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, will be appointed as the Minister of Defence and Law and Order.

“I will also be monitoring the defence sector as I will also carrying the responsibility of ensuring security in the country if elected as the president,” Mr. Premadasa said.

Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri, Ministers Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara Jayamaha also spoke at the rally. (Yohan Perera in Wellawaya)