The inspiration of the Swarajya comes from the spirit of the Mahatma which is a message that deviated from the Anglo-Saxon model of confrontational..!

Swarajya Movement manifesto released......by a Special Correspondent

It was refreshing to get the "party manifesto" from the Swarajya Party candidate for the Presidential elections, Mr Ukku Banda Wijekoon. What is most appealing is that it is a low budget publication in all three languages put together by an innovative team conscious of thrift, something totally ignored by the main parties since elections started in Sri Lanka. The entire policy statement of the movement is presented in a nutshell on one sheet of paper 16 ½ inches by 11 ½ inches and folded into 16 pages.

The cover has the striking slogan "Partyless People’s Power". Underlining this are the words "The country belongs to all". A small picture of Mahatma Gandhi adorns the cover with the quotation "You must be the change you wish to see in the world". The inspiration of the Swarajya naturally comes from the spirit of the Mahatma which is a message that deviated from the Anglo-Saxon model of confrontational and competitive politics to one of a communitarian and cooperative spirit. The village is the primary font of all power, and the people being central in the process of governance.

The manifesto has the preamble:

"WE, THE PEOPLE protecting our sovereign right as enshrined in Article 3 of the Constitution of SRI LANKA.

"In the Republic of Sri Lanka, sovereignty is in the people and is inalienable.

Sovereignty includes the powers of government, fundamental rights and the franchise,"

with the sole aim of uniting all the people of our motherland Sri Lanka to be a truly free, independent and a pinnacle of democracy in which all citizens of this country have equal rights and opportunities to live wherever they \ choose to and pursue their life goals without fear of discrimination,

" ... Independence must begin at the bottom ... it follows therefore that every village has to be self sustained and capable of managing its own affairs ... "

having experienced the cancer of divisive Party Politics for over 60 years, the Swarajya Movement has now evolved an Electoral Process free of violence, vote rigging and intimidation with representation of the vital sectors of society - namely;

YOUTH, WOMEN, FOOD PRODUCERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS

SENIOR CITIZENS - Protectors of our Heritage safeguarding our resources and eliminating waste and corruption by a process that ensures ACCOUNTABILITY and TRANSPARENCY, and dismantling the concentration of power and replacing the present political structure with a system that ensures consensus and Trusteeship of Power

have decided to place before You a program that can bring about the peaceful transition of the present unacceptable system of governance through the nomination of a candidate for the Presidential election who represents the symbol of that CHANGE …

Symbol of change

The message of the Swarajya Movement is being presented to the country by Mr. Ukku Banda Wijekoon. Mr. Wijekoon, born to a farmer family in Badulla District, had his early education in the village school and later at the Welimada Central School. He graduated from the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya in 1959.

He was appointed Divisional Revenue Officer in 1960 and served in Anuradhapura, Nuwara Eliya, Vavuniya and Kurunegala Districts.

He retired from the Public Service to enter politics. He was elected Member of Parliament for Dambadeniya and later appointed District Minister of Jaffna District. Subsequently, he was appointed a Cabinet Minister and later as Sri Lanka Ambassador to Russia.

The Leader of the Opposition - late Mr. Amirthalingam stated in Parliament that "Mr. U. B. Wijekoon was one of the best District Ministers in the country. The Tamil people in Jaffna respected him not for his title, but for his human qualities

He is an Executive Member of the APEY SWARAJYA Movement to empower the People and has been instrumental in setting up the first party-less Gramarajya in Wattegedara in the Kurunegala District.

Mr. Wijekoon emphatically states that the real candidate at this Presidential Election is the message of change which he is presenting. His role is primarily as the messenger.

For further information please refer to www.apeyswarajya.com

www island.lk