Addressing a large public gathering in Gampaha to mark the second anniversary of his administration, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the true strength of the National People’s Power (NPP) Government lies in the continued support of the people rather than institutional power.
He said the Government would continue to maintain a close and continuous dialogue with the public and govern transparently by remaining accountable to the people.
President Dissanayake said that during the remaining period of his administration, the Government would prioritise meeting the public directly at least once or twice a month.
He said such meetings would provide an opportunity to discuss the country’s political situation, review ongoing development programmes and jointly consider the future direction of the country.
Reflecting on previous governments, the President said political power based on institutions and parliamentary strength could quickly collapse when public support was lost.
He pointed out that the government elected in 2019 had extensive executive powers, a two-thirds majority in Parliament and control over a large number of local authorities. However, he said that government was eventually forced out of power after losing the confidence of the public.
President Dissanayake stressed that real power does not lie solely with the Executive Presidency, Parliament or local government institutions, but ultimately with the people.
He said the NPP was the first government in the country to be formed on the strength of a grassroots mandate without relying on traditional political structures.
The President said the Government would remain strong as long as it retained the trust and support of the people.
He also called on the public to continue strengthening and expanding the NPP as a broad-based movement, stressing that the confidence of the people remained the foundation of the Government’s stability.
