There were successes and failures in his four years in office, says President

President Maithripala Sirisena marked four years in office on Tuesday ( 8) with a public admission that while many successes were achieved during the past four years, it was also marked by some failures.

Speaking at the ceremony to vest the new Laggala ‘ Green Town’ with the public, President Sirisena however, stated he was committed to building on the successes of the last four years as well as to turning the failures into successes during the remainder of his tenure as Head of State.

Outlining the successes over the last four years, he recalled that steps were taken to establish democracy for all people, build a society that was free from fear as well as to build a free media, an independent judiciary, an impartial public service and strengthen the national economy.

He noted that fraud, corrup- tion and irregularities were key challenges towards developing the country and said committed attempts were made during the last four years to eliminate them. President Sirisena further invited everyone to join hands to eliminate corruption in the country.

President Sirisena marked his four years in office with two significant events, one being the vesting of the new Laggala green town with the people. Built at a cost of Rs.4.5 billion, the town replaces the old Laggala town, which was submerged by the Kalu Ganga Reservoir due to the construction of the MoragahakandaKalu Ganga Multi- Purpose Development Project. It will cater to the needs of some 3000 families of the old Laggala town who were displaced due to the Moragahakanda- Kalu Ganga project.

A l arge number of Government Ministers, MPs and local area politicians were among the dignitaries who were present at this event.

The other significant event the President attended was the 122nd birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) founder S . W. R . D . Bandaranaike. The event was held near the former PM’s statue at Galle Face Green.

Senior SLFP politicians as well as members of the Bandaranaike family were present on the occasion.