100-day plan ends today-review

The 100-day programme of the newly elected government has come to an end as of 23 April. 

Has the government accomplished its stated goals?
 
This is Ada Derana’s overall review about the government’s 100-day pledge.

Newly-elected President Maithripala Sirisena, who was sworn in on 9 January, pledged that within 100-days of taking office he would diminish the powers of the Executive Presidency in favour of parliament, boost salaries of state employees, protect religious minorities and call parliamentary elections in April.

Political figures and experts have expressed different views on the 100-programme. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa once explained the programme as ‘yet another drama enacted to the country to gain votes’.

However, some experts described it as a successful method to bring about the much awaited political revolution which promised to bring forward the 19th Amendment to the Constitution and electoral reforms.

Even former President Rajapaksa’s United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) agreed to endorse the 100-day programme.

The UPFA was of the view they would back the programme wholeheartedly if the President, who departed from the Rajapaksa’a cabinet in November 2014, would not break away from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Re-establishment of democracy, good governance and the sovereignty of the people were among the highlighted objectives of the pledge.

The programme has also suggested a rainbow coalition between the United National Party and the SLFP which is termed as a ‘National Government’ concept.

The 19th Amendment was also a major aspect among the key targets to be achieved, however, it has been stuck in a deadlock at present as the opposition opposed to extend its support to pass it. The SLFP expressed that the 19th Amendment and the electoral reforms should come hand in hand.   

According to the 100-day pledge, it was scheduled to prepare election laws by 2 March, and pass the new electoral system by 17 March.

The draft bills on ‘Right to Information’ and ‘National Audit’ have also been approved by the cabinet of ministers on Wednesday (22).

Status and Achievements

The following column will demonstrate the achievement of the 100-day programme. The column has been focused on 25 significant targets including oath of office, cabinet to be appointed, national advisory council to be formed, parliament to meet for the first time after election, standing orders to be amended, start of abolishing executive presidency, introducing a Code of Conduct, mixed electoral system committee, state sector salary increase, introducing Ethical Code of Conduct, independence day, appointment of Special Commissions to investigate allegations of massive corruption in the preceding period, a Bill to implement the National Drugs policy, established of the Independent Commissions, introduce the National Audit Bill, Right to Information Bill, preparation of new elections laws, amendments to change the system of elections, pass the National Audit Bill, pass the Right to Information Act, appointments to and establishing Independent Commissions, a Parliamentary system to put in place instead of the Executive Presidential system and the parliament to be dissolved by April 23. (View More at- Tracking Maithri’s 100 Day Pledge) 

President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday (22) announced that he will address the nation and will make a special statement via all media today (23) at 9 pm. 

According to the 100-day pledge, the Parliament is scheduled to be dissolved after today.

Public opinions on the 100-day programme 

(Based on Ada Derana Your Voice form’s query “What are your views on the 100-Day programme?”)

Raja Perera- His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena has done more good to this country in the first 20-days of becoming the President of Sri Lanka than any other Government in the past SIXTY SEVEN YEARS. People of this country now have their Freedom of speech and expression and their human rights back. They all feel that they are safe and breathing with freedom. What a past TEN YEARS OF MESS. What a fear they felt, for no-fault of their own.

Mihindu Mapa- I believe, 100 day programme is just another drama that stages to get more votes. No one expect you to do those important things in 100 days. Also to get votes, at election meetings you mentioned really unreasonable things such as get rid of fuel tax totally, increase education funding up to 6% of GDP, increase the projects by 2/3 with the same expenditure the previous government used for projects etc. You have to be reasonable. Proper planning, programming and implementation are really important to carry out either small or a big project. Strategic Planning is the first thing to be undertaken in order to have a master plan based on counties priorities taken into account. Unreasonable election promises always give dilemmas to any elected government when they want to implement those ideas.

Neutral_Opinion (username) - Sri-Lankan Society needs iconic hero like Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse. He is the person who united the country after 500 years and gave the back born to our country by restoring self-confidence. There will be no chance to produce such hero for another 100s of years that we can talk to our children about the time that we lived in and how proud to be part of it. Everybody has mistakes/errors/misjudgements. However, Mr. MR’s contributions overweight his mistakes. Our country is fragile and has lot of divisions. Thus, we need a strong leader to unite it and to reform political system.

Rahman - We believe in this New President. Hopefully we support him to implement all his vision he had in his agenda. We voted him to stop the illegal activities of drug related issues , hindrance to our female society , independence of our practicing our own religion without hindrance , cost of living to reduce, punishing all the thieves who stole state money.