Sajith assures that State administration will be based on meritocracy instead of political friendships

Colombo (News 1st): Presidential Candidate of the New Democratic Front Sajith Premadasa says that he will create an era where merit is rewarded instead of personal friendships. The special conference of the Jathika Hela Urumaya was held today (October 18) under the theme "Deya nisi magata gamu.. Ekwa idiriyata yamu". Speaking at the conference Presidential Candidate of the New Democratic Front Sajith Premadasa noted that as people of one country the public must decide if they will create a country that is enslaved by one family. He questioned; "Does the future of the country depends on the decisions taken by this one family? Is this the future of the country? Is this what we are going to gift the youth of our country with?" He noted that they must embark on a new journey as a country. He added that they will turn a new page in state administration after emerging victorious at the upcoming presidential election. He pointed out that it will be done after throwing aside the era where benefits, positions, and rewards were given out based on personal affiliations, and create a clean state administration mechanism that will help create a good future for our country by establishing a society based on meritocracy. Premadasa noted that from now on they will change the system where positions were granted based on the surname and where duties were assigned based on personal affiliations. He said the entire political system will be changed as their aim is to make the motherland stronger. He went onto note that they will be dedicated to establishing efficient state institutions and Ministries that can control them efficiently, stop the waste of resources and completely eradicate fraud and corruption that has become cancer to Sri Lanka. He added that they will completely destroy the system where a council from one family that sits on the top floor of an air-conditioned building in the capital decides on what should happen and what shouldn't happen in a country. Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka who was also present at the conference noted that they were able to curtail the arbitrary powers possessed by the president through the enactment of the 19th amendment. However, he noted that the presidency is still a strong position. He added that the general public of Sri Lanka has an issue of stability, the President is on one side and the parliament is on the other. He said that following the elections the issues that were faced as there was no majority in parliament will be solved. Minister Ranawaka noted that they will get the opportunity to form a government that does not pull in three different directions, a government that does not run on the support of extremists and a government that can represent the entire country. Meanwhile, the Organization to protect the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the Tamil Progressive party, the Telugu Desham Party, and the National Youth Front pledged their support to Presidential Candidate Sajith Premadasa at the conference today (October 18).