Dear Mr. President, Your Excellency Anura Kumara Dissanayake,
For a long time, I’ve pondered how best to salute you, knowing that no form of greeting would ever offend someone as a down-to-earth person like yourself. You assumed this position with the purpose of cleansing it from its tarnish. It is your presence that brings honour and dignity to the office, not the other way around.
I want to be very honest with you, dear President. 22nd September 2024, when you were declared the President of Sri Lanka, was the second happiest day in my life after the day I married my better half.
Dear President, 22nd September might have been the happiest day for many Sri Lankans. The reason is obvious. The daydream of the general public and especially of the oppressed people came true on that auspicious and luckiest day in the history of our country; the impossible was possible and the unachievable was achieved.
Dear President, I have never seen you face-to-face, letting aside talking to you. I was crazy about listening to your talk through any media not because of your fluent articulation but of the content and logic.
Dear President, for over three decades, you have selflessly dedicated your prime years to our nation, enduring immense risks and hardships, all without fear or favouritism. Your unwavering commitment to salvaging our motherland has given you unparalleled insight into the root causes of the decay and destruction that our country now faces.
You have a deep understanding of the needs and sentiments of the people, having lived both among the common citizenry and the elites. This is why, both before and after your presidential victory, you have consistently emphasized that the rule of law will be upheld at all costs, regardless of who is involved or the consequences that may follow.
As an ordinary citizen, I respectfully urge Your Excellency to uphold the principle of ‘the rule of law’ as a guiding vision at all times. There is no need to remind you that the absence of the rule of law is the root cause of the many challenges our country faces today—erosion of justice, abuse of power, social instability and conflict, economic crisis, human rights violations, corruption, the weakening of democracy, and the loss of public trust.
Dear President, the rule of law has steadily declined since the introduction of the executive presidency in 1978. This is why, since 1990, public calls for its abolishment have only intensified. Although every presidential candidate has promised to abolish it in their election manifestos, once in power, they have failed to keep their word, driven by power-hungry, authoritarian, and egotistical instincts.
Mr. President, I trust you will agree that the rise of communalism and racialism following the introduction of the executive presidency in 1978 was neither an accident nor a coincidence. It was an inevitable byproduct of the excessive power vested in a single individual under this system.
I am as certain as death and taxes that Your Excellency will honour the promise to abolish the executive presidency. However, my concern goes beyond that; it addresses an even more critical issue.
I respectfully urge Your Excellency to take every possible step to restore the rule of law and make it paramount in all aspects of life, from birth to death, so that the pathways to communalism and corruption are firmly closed.
Ensuring equality before the law will foster a sense of fairness among all citizens, particularly minorities, who must feel that they are neither superior nor inferior, but equal to everyone. When any ethnic group or section of society feels deprived of its rightful opportunities or denied legal recourse, they are often compelled to seek alternatives.
The formation of institutions based on ethnicity, or the demand for state sector appointments based on ethnic ratios, are direct consequences of the absence of the rule of law. Over time, these practices breed social mistrust, conflict, and economic and political instability.
Mr. President, I firmly believe that this beautiful country can only achieve communal harmony and economic progress under the guidance of a farsighted and genuinely patriotic leader like yourself.
We no longer need segregation or institutions—whether political parties, schools, or others—based solely on ethnicity. This does not call for the erasure of cultural or religious identities, but rather the celebration of our diversity with mutual respect. Let us unite and commit to upholding the rule of law in every aspect of life, eradicating communalism and racism from our country and beyond.
We do not need any more segregation and institutions (be it political parties, schools, or others) purely based on ethnicity. This does not imply the destruction of the people’s cultural and religious identity but rather seeks to recognize their diversity with mutual respect. Let us all determine and cooperate to ensure the rule of law in every walk of life and banish communalism and racism from the face of the country and the earth.
I envision a future where a Sinhala GA and OIC serve in Batticaloa, a Tamil GA and OIC in Matara, and a Muslim GA and OIC in Jaffna, all working harmoniously without dissent or murmur from the public or politicians. This dream can only be realized when the rule of law is upheld and respected by all.
Dear Mr. President, we believe you are uniquely capable of turning your words into action. We place our utmost trust in your leadership and have faith that you will free our nation from these evils, guiding it towards becoming one of the world’s greatest countries.
Thanking you.
Yours faithfully,
N M M Mifly
Note: Dear President, please do not abolish the executive presidency, which was the mother of all evils all of sudden, prior to the restoration of the fundamental pillars of democracy, including the rule of law.
