{"id":92153,"date":"2019-08-12T14:35:56","date_gmt":"2019-08-12T20:35:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=92153"},"modified":"2019-08-12T05:15:01","modified_gmt":"2019-08-12T12:15:01","slug":"presidential-speech-policy-statement-by-gotabaya-rajapakse-sri-lankas-presidential-candidate-for-slpp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2019\/08\/12\/presidential-speech-policy-statement-by-gotabaya-rajapakse-sri-lankas-presidential-candidate-for-slpp\/","title":{"rendered":"Presidential Speech & Policy Statement by Gotabaya Rajapakse \u2013 Sri Lanka\u2019s Presidential candidate for SLPP"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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It\nwas a moment many had awaited with much impatience. \u2018My choice didn\u2019t matter \u2013 the Nation had already selected &\nelected him\u2026 My brother is yours\u201d<\/em> was enough to put to rest any doubts. Gotabaya\nRajapakse was thus declared the Presidential nominee of the SLPP a party formed\n& steamrolled into public popularity after the 2018 local government\nelections. A very dignified and articulate speech was delivered by the former\nPresident & present Opposition Leader, Mahinda Rajapakse. It touched every\narea that needed to be touched and set the tempo for the grand finale and then\ncame the Nation\u2019s new hope with what no one expected was to become his National\nPolicy statement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gotabaya\nRajapakse articulated his speech well and was perfectly suited for the\noccasion. It was toned to show what he would do, was acceptable and believable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love my Nation, I have a vision for\nmy Nation, I will serve my Nation & I will accept the challenges and prove\nI can overcome the challenges responsibly & successfully\u2019 <\/strong>was all that the People wanted to hear Gotabaya\nRajapakse say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As\nMr. Gotabaya Rajapakse said, the country was at a very decisive juncture \u2013 it was\nnothing anyone was not aware of. The country had been misled, misused and manipulated\nby those that had orchestrated the January 2015 regime change. It was only\nnatural that the patriotic and national-minded individuals and organizations\nwould search for an alternative leader. Thus, Gotabaya Rajapakse acknowledged\nthe trust placed in him by the Maha Sangha and the citizens of Sri Lanka for\nthat role. He pledged to encompass the hopes of all Citizens on behalf of the\nNation. That pledge received a resounding applause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gotabaya\nRajapakse reminded the Nation of his 20 year\u2019s services in the armed forces and\nthe note by late Gen. Cyril Ranatunga who had inked in pen that Gota was one to\ntake any initiative & complete it over and above the line of duty. This he\nproved throughout the 10 years he was tasked to handle the most challenging roles\nas Defense Secretary throughout the conflict & thereafter. That role,\neveryone knows he did with exemplary acumen unmatched by any of his\npredecessors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nlisteners were automatically taken back to his post-conflict role in a quest to\nbeautify Colombo and suburbs turning Sri Lanka\u2019s capital into one of the most\nbeautiful cities in the world & gaining international recognition for it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As\nMr. Gotabaya Rajapakse rightfully said \u2013 not only does the country need a\nleader with a vision but a leader who can plan & complete that vision. Everyone\nknew that as Defense Secretary and throughout his post-LTTE defeat role he had\nshown to the Nation that he was a man with a vision and a man who could turn\nthat vision into action and complete the action within a short time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SLPP\u2019s\nPresidential Candidate covered some very sensitive areas with finesse placing\nconfidence in the People that he would :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n