President Maithripala Sirisena said if former leaders performed their duties and governed properly, there would not be a need for them to undertake long marches for political purposes, hurting their feet.
The President said so at a ceremony at the Mawanella Provincial Council auditorium yesterday to distribute computers to 50 pirivenas and churches in the Kegalle district.
“Though some people greedy for power walk along roads aimlessly, the government is committed to build the country by working with consciousness and discipline,” the President said.
“Today, the country is suffering from a debt burden of Rs. 9,000 billion. The new government has to face the challenge of an unbearable burden of debts, created by the former government,” he said.
“After being in the office of Presidency once, I don’t want to participate in marathon walks seeking power again. I will execute my duties properly during the tenure of my office,” President Sirisena said.
The President symbolically handed over the computers to religious leaders.
Later, the President participated in a ceremony to introduce the concept of Langama pasala Hondama pasala at Mederigama Vidyalaya, Mawanella.
Under this programme, two selected schools in provincial level will be developed and the aim of the programme is to limit the competition for popular schools among parents.
“Even though we proudly speak about development, more than 4,000 schools out of the total of 10,150 schools in the country do not have basic facilities,” the President said. “We need a proper management and an equitable distribution of material resources among all citizens to strengthen the fields of free education and health. The present government is committed to protect the right for equal opportunities of all the children of the country,” he added.
Ministers Kabir Hashim, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Rauff Hakeem, State Minister Champika Premadasa and former Minister Athauda Seneviratne were among the participants.
