New President’s Vision – A Fantasy Or A Reality?

By Gamini Jayaweera -February 5, 2015

Gamini Jayaweera

Sri Lankans of all races Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers, Malay and of all religions Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Catholics, and Anglicans have voted in millions on 8th January 2015 in favour of Mr. Maithripala Sirisena to become the next Executive President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The people of Sri Lanka have placed their trust and pinned their hopes that the newly elected President of Sri Lanka will re-build a Democratic, Compassionate, Peaceful, Law abiding and Sovereign nation in the near future.

On 30th of January our new President addressed the nation and demonstrated for the first time in the history of our political sphere that the Leader of our nation has humility among other leadership qualities to lead our nation during the next five years. This is a very important leadership quality which is lacking in most of our current politicians. In his address to the nation the new President has exhibited that he has no ego and he is willing to solve problems with discussions, respecting other opinions and compromising wherever possible to achieve the maximum benefits for the people of Sri Lanka. As Ezra Taft Benson stated the President has shown that “Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right.” Humility does not show weakness in leadership as some people believe but it is concerned with what is the right approach for the issue at hand. The previous regime showed arrogance in-lieu of humility hence they were unable to learn from their mistakes. If the new President governs our country exactly the way he has outlined in his address to the nation, there is no doubt that he will become one of the great leaders in Sri Lanka. As Rabidranath Tagore stated “We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility”.

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