Views are being freely expressed regarding the qualities and experience required of the person aspiring to be the next President of Sri Lanka.
We know that he should be:
- A person of high personal integrity
- Committed to the development of the nation
- Committed to maintaining law and order
- Committed to helping all persons, regardless of race, religion, caste or regional location.
- Committed to developing all parts of the country, with his appointees faithfully implementing his policies.
- The next President should appoint a Cabinet of Ministers of no more than 25 persons.
The next President should also ensure that:
- No person facing or having faced criminal charges in a court of law be allowed to hold a ministerial position; if any minister or Cabinet member becomes liable to a criminal charge, he or she should be immediately removed from office.
- No person with any links to the drugs trade or to the underworld should be appointed to the Cabinet. Such persons should not be allowed even an advisory position in the President’s administration.
The next President should be committed to:
- Implementing the 17 Amendment to the Constitution;
- Ensuring the freedom of the media.
- Ensuring that all cases of police brutality and suspected murderous activity by persons connected with the administration are speedily investigated and appropriate action taken against persons responsible.
- Making the President responsible to Parliament.
- Removing the President’s blanket immunity from prosecution.
The next President does not have to possess any previous political experience. In fact, not being sullied by the country’s dirty politics may be considered an advantage.
Whoever becomes the President, it is essential that all his Ministers and high officials be men of high integrity and that they strictly uphold law and order.
Any person found to be in contravention of such standards should be removed immediately from office.
Gamini Fernando, Colombo 7 |
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