National People’s Power (NPP) Presidential candidate, Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the NPP will bring about legal provisions to ensure election manifestos and policy frameworks of the winning candidates at elections are legally enforceable.
Launching his election manifesto titled, ‘Apekshawe Udanaya’ (Dawn of Hope) yesterday in Colombo the NPP Presidential candidate, Dissanayake said often manifestos bearing various promises become mere documents following an election while governments work contrary to these assurances. “But a manifesto is a bond between a political movement and the public” he said, adding that the people vote for candidates based on these promises.
According to Dissanayake, it places a responsibility on the politicians to fulfil those promises set out in the manifesto. “Therefore we will formulate a law to ensure that manifestos are legally enforceable allowing the public to take legal action against politicians who violate their trust,” he added.
Dissanayke launching the manifesto presented it to the clergy and other guests who attended the event yesterday.
Addressing the gathering he said the NPP is presenting its manifesto with the intention of rebuilding the country. “Today the country is ridden in crime and debt, communities are divided while the rule of law has collapsed,” he pointed out.
Dissanayake noted that the NPP led by him will focus on three main areas to rebuild the nation. “First, we will look at restoring the rule of law and democracy, and under an NPP rule no person will be above the law of the country, a rule which will also apply to the President of the country, he said.
“The law must be equal to all” he said, and assured that the Police, Attorney General’s Department and the Judicial system will be restructured.
Dissanayake said under his governance fraud and corruption will be eliminated. “Politics has created a privileged class of people” he said, adding that in a poor country such as Sri Lanka, politicians however have become wealthy. “Politics will be converted from the business it is today to a public service” he assured.
Thirdly noting they would focus on national unity and security Dissanayake said the fears of national security will be resolved through politics and the participation of the people.
“We do not need Generals to resolve these issues” he claimed.
The candidate promised to reduce the President’s expenditure by 90 per cent, halt pensions of parliamentarians within five years, halt the maintenance of ex Presidents and First ladies through public monies, limit the Cabinet to 30 members and stop vehicle permits granted to politicians.
“We will lead the way to create a different political culture in the country through these reforms.” Dissnayake promised.