Manifesto/2010 – Sarath Fonseka

Economy
I. A budget for the people
1. We will evaluate all budget items to reduce the tax
burden on citizens.
2. We will strive to make the middle class the engine of
growth of this country
3. We will prioritize uplifting the quality of life for lower
income families.
II. Tax breaks for businesses
0. We will organize taxes to reduce the tax burden on hard working citizens and
business enterprises
1. We will strive to stabilize the rising cost of living.
III. We will grow industries through proper infrastructure and incentives

We will restore fiscal accountability to governmental expenditure and reevaluate the existing tax
system to reduce the tax burden on the population and businesses, creating jobs and giving
entrepreneurs the necessary infrastructure and incentives to not only create a sustainable
economy but also to be competitive in the global arena.

We will encourage our entrepreneurs. Sustainable development cannot be achieved without a

firm business base and a vibrant middle class.

The government will no longer be the problem for Sri Lankans and businesses - Your
government will be the solution.

Solutions for a better living standard

Private Sector
• We will address issues faced by the private sector to maintain high standards in their
products and services.
• We will aim to improve the income of all the employees.
• We will collaborate and find ways to assist the nation out of this current economic
situation.

Plantation Sector
• We will enhance the living standards of plantation workers through:
• Increased wages
• Satisfactory living conditions and housing arrangements

Agriculture Sector

1
 • We will provide special incentives to solve issues faced by farmers
• We will providing fertilizer at reasonable rates and market farm products to ensure a
sustainable income

Government Sector

Fisheries
• We will address the needs of fishermen and provide assistance for storing and
transportation of harvest
• We will revive this important sector through collaboration with private enterprises to
ensure sustained prices and a formidable profit

Pensioners & Elderly

• We will ensure pensioners sufficient funds for a comfortable retirement
• We will provide a reasonable means to all over 60 years to ensure their security and ability
to manage all essential expenses.

Lower Income Families

• We will reassess Samurdhi payments to ensure an increase as required. (These
payments will cover all people irrespective of political affiliation)
• We will create feasible methods to assist lower income families and encourage self
employment and small businesses

Servicemen & Families, Policemen, Civil Defense Forces

Servicemen, Policemen, and the Civil Defense Forces have made the greatest sacrifice to
liberate the country from separatist terrorists. We recognize their bravery and commitment to the
sovereignty and integrity of the nation

• We will protect the families of those who sacrificed their lives at the State's expense for
life.
• We will guarantee that injured and those rendered disable are taken care of by the
Government for life with the highest recognition of their actions and improvement in their
living standards.
• We will guarantee that those who currently serve are given all necessary facilities and paid
accordingly to ensure a good quality of life.

Environmental Conservation
As the nation moves towards a sounder development
process, it is imperative that we as human beings
conserve our natural environment and better utilize our
limited resources. We are committed to working with the
Central Environmental Authority (CEA) as well as non-
Governmental organizations to uphold and further the
environmental protection campaign in Sri Lanka.

2
 • We will integrate environmental considerations as priorities in the development process of
the country
• We will work to protect and enhance the environment and the quality of the environment
• We will seek to prevent, abate and control pollution, deforestation, and environmental
degradation
• We will establish links with international environmental organizations and their information
systems for the acquisition and dissemination of information
• We will enhance and further develop the National Post Consumer Plastic Waste
Management Programme of the CEA
• We will work with schools, religious organizations, community organizations and
businesses to promote environmentally friendly and responsible attitudes and actions to
create a more aware and greener future generation

National Treasures
We are committed to protecting our nation’s legacy and historic heritage. The resolution of the
conflict opens up access to many of our ancient cities, sites and natural Landmarks. Therefore,
it’s our duty to make sure these are maintained and preserved for our future generations.

• We will work together with UNESCO to protect and increase the properties inscribed on
the World Heritage List
• We will enforce laws protecting sacred locations, ancient cities, national monuments and
forest reserves
• We will strengthen efforts to curb all forms of smuggling of artifacts

Healthcare

The healthcare sector in Sri Lanka has proven to be a cut

above other countries in the region, with health outcomes
comparable to those of “developed” countries. In spite of
constraints in funding and human resources, healthcare
continues to be offered free of charge to all of those in need. It
is a blessing that is essential for a healthy society and should
be enhanced to provide all citizens with quality medical and
dental services.

We will:
• strengthen the provincial health sector to ensure even distribution of quality healthcare,
upgrading the peripheral hospitals to internationally aclaimed standards
• develop maternal and child health services through increased human resources, funding,
and training of community based healthcare workers
• ensure high quality and safe vaccine provisions for the expanded programme of
immunization

3
 • ensure purchase of quality medicinal drugs, in a transparent manner from companies that
adhere to WHO good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards and improve facilitates for
testing and storage of these drugs in SL
• improve and upgrade the facilities of the State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing
Corporation (SPMC) to enable more and quality drugs to be manufactured in SL
• seek to increase the number of medical officers and specialists trained in mental health
• ensure safety of the healthcare teams by provision of adequate safety/protective
equipment, especially during epidemics of infectious diseases
• improve and develop high quality laboratory services at all government hospitals
• support programmes to improve overseas opportunities for healthcare personnel
• improve transparency at all levels of healthcare provision, and reduce corruption in the
healthcare sector

Our goal is a healthy nation and this requires not only the strengthening of the curative sector but
also promotion of health and wellbeing. Achieving this goal requires a committed investment in
healthcare, and we are truly committed to improving the quality and efficiency of the health sector
of Sri Lanka.

National Security
At the end of a war spanning three decades and at the
threshold of living in a ‘safe and secure’ Sri Lanka, national
security is of paramount importance to ensure personal,
social, economic and political security. Our nation needs
policies that are both contemporary and effective offering
proper solutions that will protect our country’s economic,
military, and political needs. We plan to protect our country’s
territorial integrity, internal infrastructure in order to keep all
our citizens safe and to harness the full potential of the people without let or hindrance.

We will:
• ensure each citizen is able to benefit from economic security, employment and freedom
from want
• guarantee a totally independent judicial system where the people have faith and
confidence that justice and fair play shall prevail
• create a state of the art, highly disciplined professional and committed Tri forces, Police
and Civil Defence Force capable of safe guarding the country and its citizens from
external and internal threats
• boost naval and coast guard capabilities to thwart smuggling of humans, weapons drugs
and all other illegal activities that compromises national security
• uphold the rule of law and order and the public security of all citizens

4
 • reorganise and restructure the Police Force so as to make it free of political interference,
corruption, favoritism, and bribery
• create an environment conducive to build trust and confidence between the general public
and the Police
• safeguard the Constitution and the peoples’ Democracy by ensuring political security

A government answerable to people through the parliament should be the principle. All steps will
be taken to ensure national security, security of people and economic security.

Education
We are committed to enhancing the education system of the
nation and preparing our coming generations for success in
academics and employment.. To this end we understand there
needs to be reforms in the areas of infrastructure, curriculum,
access and funding. We are prepared to take the necessary
steps to implement these changes to ensure all students are
provided with all the necessary tools for them to succeed.

We will:
• seek curriculum reforms at all levels with emphasis on skill development and improving
the depth and quality of literacy
• promote both university and vocational training institutes to provide more access to
students in line with the immediate requirements of the job market
• create policies aimed at developing an entrepreneurial culture in higher education
institutions by making work experience and practical training mandatory
• improve the standards of schools in each district to that of National schools
• release more funds to schools in rural areas to improve staffing and infrastructure facilities
• offer attractive salary packages to those willing to serve in remote areas
• improve systematic staff appraisals and teacher training courses
• subsidize IT and language training facilities believing that technology and communication
are key to competing in a global economy
• implement scholarship schemes based on need and merit giving special attention to the
children of Servicemen, Policemen and the Civil Defense Forces
• create a national policy for special needs education focusing on the practicality of inclusive
education, resources, and teacher training

Minorities
"I will be by your side like a shadow. I will be your strength and Inspiration”

We will:

5
 • not tolerate any act of violence or discrimination against a person based on ethnicity,
gender, religion, caste, creed, sexual orientation or disability. Such violence, threats and
discrimination are in direct conflict with and contrary to the very principles and laws that
govern our nation
• stand firm in our commitment to create a national identity, where we all stand together as
Sri Lankans, with our differences, for that is what makes a nation vibrant. Being united
with diversity is an opportunity to be stronger. Through this we get to see, listen to, learn
from and appreciate ideals and actions that will in turn help us make a better future, for
generations to come. We have wasted too much time tearing ourselves apart. It is now
time to learn to live together and by doing so prosper, and make this nation great - as it
was always intended to be
• ensure the security and equal rights of all communities as guaranteed by the constitution

We invite those who have left the country, especially the Tamil diaspora to return. We guarantee
their security and welcome all communities to assist in the new era about to dawn in Sri Lanka

Bribery and Corruption

We will not tolerate any act of bribery or corruption.

Our policies will raise awareness of bribery, its prevention and give
guidance to both the reporting of suspected bribery and how the
investigation of that report will proceed.

We encourage the creation of citizens’ groups to scrutinize Government

spending at each level. Citizens should be able to ask questions on how
their tax money is spent and that it is spent wisely.

The current Government has plundered public property with callous

disregard and no action has been taken to prevent inducement and fraud by the present
administration.

Under the current Executive Presidential system the parliament has become an institution that is
corrupt and that abets corruption.

Currently our country faces issues such as:

• Lack of transparency
• Flawed laws and procedures
• Weak leadership
• Family and friends of the top officials being given favorable treatment such as
government jobs, tenders, government loans and privileged information
• Having individuals favored by the administration act as intermediaries for deals made by
officials
• Power without accountability

6
 • Lack of enforcement

We believe if bribery and corruption are put to an end, the economy will be on its way to recovery.

We will:
• increase the transparency of Governmental policies and procedures
• investigate corrupt deals made by Government officials and hold people accountable for
their actions
• instigate independent monitoring and pricing of federal transactions
• minimize political intervention in private affairs
• improve salaries and benefits

Transportation
Transport and communication are vital ingredients in the
development of a nation. Regional development and the
supply of essential and non-essential commodities and
goods are contingent upon an extensive road, rail and air
transport system.
The quicker people and goods are transported from one
place to another, the greater the distribution of wealth
within a country.

Based on the above principles we will:

• interconnect bus and railway systems in the Central Business Districts of Colombo,
Kandy, Matara, Galle, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Badulla to minimize
inconvenience and travel time
• extend the railway lines to reach rural areas in order to facilitate the distribution of
agricultural products from the farmer to the consumer
• create a unified public and private road transport system to improve efficiency
• provide adequate funds to the SLTB for maintenance
• develop and extend a highway system which is linked with arterial and peripheral roads to
reach towns and villages
• improve frequency of buses and trains
• provide better parking facilities in the Central Business Districts
• make certain that three-wheelers become a more competitive and safe mode of
transportation
• enforce the application of road rules in collaboration with the police force to increase
efficiency of traffic flow and safeguard passengers and pedestrians

7
Energy
The current cost of producing a unit of electricity far
exceeds the revenue earned. Our goal is to optimize
existing resources, to reduce operations and other non-fuel
costs while planning for a phased migration to a newer,
more efficient energy generation and distribution system.

We will:
• focus on lowering operating costs to offset the negative effects of high fuel prices
• provide incentives and promote research and development on the use of alternative,
sustainable energy resources to suit local conditions
• enter into joint venture partnerships with the Private Sector to explore and commercially
utilize oil and natural gas resources
• create an authority to regulate, control, and monitor the use of all energy resources and
its impact on the environment in line with the existing environmental regulations and laws.
This regulatory body will be authorized to recommend required changes in law in favor of
a sustainable environment

Media
The media is to be completely free and investigative journalism shall be the first line of checks
and balances against corruption.
We will:
• guarantee this freedom and ensure that the Government
provides for the welfare of media personnel
• respect the media and its right to report, and we take
that as the voice of the public
• implement systems to protect the identity and wellbeing
of those who raise concerns regarding wrongdoings in
organizations and groups

The media should challenge us to fulfill our promises and give voice to the grievances of the
masses. Together we hope to foster an atmosphere of responsible and investigative reporting -
there is not just one view and we look forward to hearing them all.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contact Us
3/1, Rajakeeya Mawatha, Colombo 7.

Phone: (011) 7393550 / (011) 5231019

Fax : (011) 7393551

Email: info@sarathfonseka.com