National progress cannot be achieved through suspicion, mistrust of one another: President

Colombo, Dec. 21 (Daily Mirror) - National progress cannot be achieved through suspicion and mistrust of one another, but only when everyone fulfils the responsibilities entrusted to them with steadfast determination, unity of purpose and resilience in the face of any challenge, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

The President pointed out that by properly fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to the President and the Government, to religious institutions, to the people and to the security forces, it is possible to swiftly rebuild the motherland with the pride and dignity that once belonged to us in history.

The President invited everyone to work together towards this goal. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made these remarks this morning (21) while attending as the Chief Guest at the Commissioning and Passing Out Parade of cadet officers at the Sri Lanka Military Academy in Diyatalawa.

While noting that Sri Lanka possesses a proud heritage and a history of victories, the President stated that the country has suffered multiple forms of decline over the past few decades.

He said that the responsibility entrusted to everyone today is to transform the motherland once again into a state that commands high value and respect on the global stage.

The President stated that, as President and as a government, he would do his best to fulfil the responsibilities entrusted to him in rebuilding the nation. He further noted that the Government is fulfilling its responsibility to rebuild the economy and establish the necessary mechanisms for it, to strengthen the rule of law and to transform politics from a profession that amasses public wealth into one that serves the people.

The Government, I as President, and our motherland place great expectations upon you. Our country has faced many challenges during different periods.In overcoming those challenges; your

senior officers have sacrificed their lives for the security, peace and people of this motherland.

You stand today on soil sanctified by those who sacrificed their lives in heroic struggles to liberate our motherland. Therefore, an inescapable responsibility rests upon all of us. As members of the Sri Lanka Army, you bear an irrevocable duty to ensure the security of our motherland and its people. We place our trust and hope in you. Our country faced a major disaster due to the cyclone and civilian life was completely disrupted.

Providing food to certain communities became extremely difficult and rescuing some lives posed significant challenges. From that day to this, the Sri Lanka Army has played a major role in confronting every challenge. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to them.

Members of the armed forces are engaged in extremely demanding tasks, making great efforts to restore normalcy to civilian life. The responsibility placed upon you is not merely that of a

profession. There are many different professions and your friends are engaged in various occupations. Each of those professions carries its own responsibility and values. However, I

believe that you have been entrusted with exceptionally high values and a tremendous responsibility rests upon your shoulders.

We must rebuild our motherland. From many directions, our country has faced serious threats. There was a period when the state machinery weakened and collapsed and another when the

economy was severely challenged and deteriorated. There was a time when social wellbeing completely eroded. Human relationships began to lose their value. Relationships between parents

and children began to break down. Relationships between teachers and students began to deteriorate. Relationships between religious institutions and their congregations began to weaken.

Our country was moving towards becoming a state where all human relationships had broken down.

Now, the responsibility entrusted to us is to transform this motherland into a state that commands high values and recognition in the world. Similar responsibilities are entrusted to you as well.

This country cannot be taken forward by working against one another or by acting with suspicion and mistrust. As a nation, we can progress only if all of us act with firm determination to properly fulfil the responsibilities entrusted to us. I pledge to you that, as a state, we will utilise the responsibilities entrusted to us to rebuild this nation.