I’m a leader with a strong backbone: Prez

I have fought against most dangerous and powerful individuals

By Sandun A Jayasekera

President Maithripala Sirisena said on Monday even though some people tried to describe him as a leader without a strong backbone, he had shown he had a strong backbone on several occasions including the 2015 presidential election.   

“I proved this in January 2015. I did so last year on October 26 by changing the government and by appointing two presidential commissions to probe wrong doings of the previous and present regimes. Has any other president done so? I am a son of good parents. Anyone has the right to go to courts if either the government or I have done any wrong,” he said.   
The President said this at the ‘Ranaviru Prathilaba Award Ceremony’ held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on Monday.   

He said he had fought against most dangerous and powerful individuals, companies, underworld characters, drug barons and criminals in his effort to save the country from narcotics, alcohol and tobacco because of his strong backbone.   

“I and the Prime Minister have been attacked by these people saying we have no backbone. These are attacks by those who have political agendas,” the Prez said and added that such people who made malicious, vituperative and unfair comments that he and the government had not done enough to contain terrorism by religious extremists had not right to tell him when to leave or whether to remain in politics because he had been elected by the people.   

He challenged his detractors to point out where he had failed to restore law and order and safeguard national security after the Easter Sunday terror attack.   

The President said those ill-natured and venomous comments had disgraced the heroic service rendered by the security forces, the police and the Civil Defence Forces after the April 21 attack.   

“The Easter Sunday attack came when none of us expected it. But our security agencies detected a large stock of explosives, hideouts and arrested hundreds of terrorists,” he said and added that   

three heroic police personnel lost their lives during the investigations.   

“I was overseas at the time but returned home the next day and immediately conveyed a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) the three Armed Forces Commanders, the Police Chief, heads of the intelligence services and discussed in detail the next course of action and appointed a presidential commission comprising Supreme Court judges. In three weeks, almost all those with links to the terrorist were arrested. Five cases have been filed in the Supreme Court and other courts citing ministers and top officials as respondents. As a government, we have done everything possible to crush terrorism and prevent a repetition. Who can point the finger at me or the government,” a visibly annoyed President said.   Defense Secretary Shantha Kottegoda made the welcome address while the President distributed deeds of ownership of houses built with funds from the Ranaviru Welfare Fund and ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ Fund and scholarships to children of war heroes. 

I proved this in January 2015. I did so last year on October 26 by  changing the government and by appointing two presidential commissions  to probe wrong doings of the previous and present regimes. Has any other  president done so?