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Maithri assumes Presidency sans much ado
The swearing in of Maithripala Sirisena as the country’s seventh Executive President, at a simple and rather chaotic ceremony at the historic
Maithripala Sirisena being sworn in as President before Supreme Court Justice K. Sripavan
Independence Hall in Colombo Friday evening, was befitting the man who, in a short span of six weeks, rose from near political obscurity to win the hearts and minds of millions of Sri Lankans, and defeat a formidable political opponent to win the presidency.
With an escort of the mounted police unit of the Sri Lanka Police, the President-elect drove up Independence Avenue and walked up the red carpet rolled out for him, as the hurriedly arranged swearing in ceremony got under way. The invitation letter to the swearing in stated, “all are welcome to attend it” and, hence, few restrictions were placed on those who were eager to be a part of the event.
Flanked by members of his family and leaders of political parties that supported his ascent to the highest office in the land, Mr. Sirisena took his oaths before Supreme Court Judge K. Sripavan. With proceedings of the swearing-in being telecast live over a wide screen installed at Independence Square, hundreds of his supporters cheered on the new President. Sans tight security and too many formalities, the swearing-in seemed very much a people’s event where members of the clergy and diplomatic corps, politicians, and members of the public mingled, all witnesses to an unfolding historic event.
Ranil Wickremesinghe takes his oaths as Prime Minister before President Maithripala Sirisena
In a brief address to the nation, the new President recalled D.S. Senanayake, the country’s first post-independence leader and S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, the man who ushered in the era of the common man of the country. “They introduced good governance to our country. I am committed to usher in an era where we will take the country forward under a system which will see a mix of both the Senanayake and the Bandaranaike policies being implemented,” he said.
The new President’s assurances that he would not seek another term in office and that he was committed to fulfilling the promises made within 100 days, was met with loud cheers by the people, many of them waving national flags as they thronged the area around Independence Square.
Soon after the swearing-in of the new President, United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who, until now, served as the Leader of the Opposition, was sworn in as the country’s new Primer Minister. He received the biggest cheers from the crowd as he took his oaths as Premier. It’s the third time Mr Wickremesinghe will serve as Prime Minister of the country.
As the sun set on Independence Square on Friday, the sound of firecrackers filled the air. While a veil seemed to have fallen on an oppressive regime, there was a feeling that the dawn of a new morning also held the promise of real freedom for the people of the land.
Above and below: Maithripala Sirisena greets the crowd at Independence Square as he arrives for the swearing- in ceremony. Pic by Sudath Silva
 |  The President addresses the public |
