President promises urgent action to reduce CoL, vows to strengthen economy
By Our Political Editor-Sunday, June 12, 2016
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President Maithripala Sirisena: Priority is reconciliation
For President Maithripala Sirisena, an afternoon siesta is not an affordable luxury. On rare occasions, when the rigorous routine of his office compels the need for some rest, he seizes the opportunity. Last Sunday was one such occasion.
For President Maithripala Sirisena, an afternoon siesta is not an affordable luxury. On rare occasions, when the rigorous routine of his office compels the need for some rest, he seizes the opportunity. Last Sunday was one such occasion.
Yet, he was mindful of the engagement at 5 p.m. at his official residence at Paget Road, a tree lined area. It is a stone’s throw away from the 88-year-old historic Senior Police Officers Mess (SPOM) at Keppetipola Mawatha and overlooks the lush green playground of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Balika Vidyalaya.
A few minutes ahead of time, he walked in to a lounge wearing a checked bush shirt and trouser to greet me. “No photographs please. I am just out of bed,” he said laughingly. We adjourned to his conference room in the connected adjoining building. He asked a staffer to switch on the microphone and began to answer my questions.
A few minutes into the Q & A session, an aide interrupted. He handed in to President Sirisena a typed strip of paper. As he read through, his facial expressions showed concern. He reached out to a telephone on the conference table and asked the operator that he be connected to Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Chrisanthe de Silva. A brief conversation ensued. I heard the President tell him to act immediately. “Vahaama gatha yuthu piyawara ganna” or immediately take measures that are necessary, he directed.
