President vows to end Sri Lanka’s ‘corrupt’ image

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By Editor_1
Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (C) prepares to hoist the national flag during the country's 77th Independence Day celebrations at the Independence Square in Colombo on Tuesday (February 4, 2025) – J. Sujeewakumar/ENCL

COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s leftist president marked the anniversary of independence from Britain on Tuesday (4) with a pledge to change the impoverished island nation’s image as a “corrupt” country.

Self-avowed Marxist Anura Kumara Dissanayake dispensed with the usual elaborate military pageantry of jet flyovers and horse parades to mark the 1948 handover of power.

His government instead staged a scaled-down military march in keeping with his pledge to pare lavish spending on government officialdom.

“We are committed to transforming Sri Lanka’s global image from a country known for corrupt governance,” he said in a message to the nation.

“Despite countless obstacles and the deep-rooted flaws of the past corrupt political system, the people’s government, built by the collective will of the citizens, is steadily progressing forward.”

Dissanayake’s government concluded a long-delayed debt restructuring with both bilateral and private creditors late last year, ending Sri Lanka’s status as a bankrupt nation.

Sri Lanka defaulted on its $46 billion external debt in April 2022 after running out of foreign exchange to finance the import of food, fuel, medicines and other essentials.

The unprecedented economic meltdown forced then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down. His successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, secured a $2.9 billion bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Dissanayake, who defeated Wickremesinghe in elections last September, is maintaining the tough austerity measures introduced under his predecessor’s administration and has vowed to continue the four-year IMF bailout program.

“As the new government, over the past four months, we have laid the foundation for a stable economy and introduced a new political culture,” Dissanayake said.

Underscoring a forward-looking vision for Sri Lanka, he emphasized that this year’s commemoration was not merely a reflection on the past but a commitment to shaping a modern, united future for all Sri Lankans.

“The aspirations of our people—both in the north and the south—converge on a shared vision: to build a nation that is progressive, inclusive, and resilient,” the President said, highlighting the collective responsibility of every citizen in ensuring not just political sovereignty but also economic and socio-cultural independence.

Dissanayake stressed the necessity of achieving economic self-sufficiency without succumbing to external pressures, calling for a united national effort. “Economic freedom is not an abstract ideal—it is a tangible goal that demands our collective dedication and resolve,” he asserted.

Laying out his vision for a progressive Sri Lanka, he remarked, “The country we build is not merely the one we inherited from history but one that future generations will cherish—respected, humane, and enriched by our cultural heritage.”

Acknowledging the significance of the present moment, he urged citizens to seize the opportunity to redefine the nation’s trajectory. “We cannot afford to let this crucial moment slip away. The responsibility to advance Sri Lanka rests not only with this government but with every citizen. I trust that the nation we entrust to you will be carried forward with even greater determination and energy.”

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Independence Day speech in full

-ENCL/Agency

 

 

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