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President on TV outlines good governance course
View(s):President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday that the order placed by the previous government for a new aircraft to be used by the President has been revoked, and instead, the money would be utilised to buyspare parts for the aircraft of SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka. The President, in an interview with the Independent Television Network (ITN), said that the aircraft, at an estimated cost of US$ 16 million, was to be paid for from Treasury funds, and the decision to halt the purchase was taken in consultation with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The President also said he had instructed that schoolchildren should not be brought to functions attended by him because he had observed schoolchildren being forced to spend hours in the scorching heat till the president had arrived at various ceremonies. He further said that he does not intend using President’s House in Fort, other than for State functions, while outstation President’s Houses will be for State functions in the provinces, pending a final decision regarding their use.
President Sirisena said that his family members would not be using helicopters unless they were accompanying him, and he too would be using them only for official purposes, if required. He said he was calling for the support of all parties concerned to implement the 100-Day programme as pledged in the manifesto. “Without the cooperation of all parties we cannot implement this programme,” he said.