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Sri Lanka president sworn in, vows economic revival
Agence France Presse - November 19, 2010
Amal Jayasinghe, Colombo – Sri Lanka's powerful president, Mahinda Rajapakse, vowed to turn his battle-scarred nation into the economic "wonder" of Asia as he was sworn in Friday for a second six-year term.
At a ceremonial inauguration that included a march-past by thousands of troops and traditional drummers, Rajapakse said his handling of the economy would replicate his military success in defeating Tamil Tiger rebels last year.
"When I took over five years ago the country was heading for break up, but today it is a unified nation where terrorism has been defeated," Rajapakse said in a nationally televised address. "I have full confidence that the young people of this country will make Sri Lanka the wonder of Asia," he said.
Rajapakse, who turned 65 on Thursday, took the oath of office on an open-air stage overlooking the Indian Ocean in the capital Colombo under tight security. Sri Lanka's main opposition boycotted the celebrations saying that the week of festivities was a waste of public funds.
Rajapakse begins his fresh mandate in an unprecedented position of strength following a constitutional revamp two months ago that further extended his already substantial executive powers.
With his personal popularity running high, family members in key government positions, the opposition divided and his only serious political rival in prison, the president's control over the island republic seems complete.
In his address, he thanked those countries who had helped during the offensive against the Tamil Tigers that ended decades of ethnic conflict.
"We worked with many nations in agreement and friendship for national security," Rajapakse said. "We now step into the development era. We extend our hand of friendship to those who assist us in this endeavour."
His remarks were a clear reference to China and Pakistan, which provided weapons, and Iran and Libya, which had offered credit, at a time when Sri Lanka's reserves had hit rock bottom.
In his pursuit of development, Rajapakse has shrugged off attempts by the West to link aid and investment to human rights and turned to other countries like China for help.
He has unveiled a series of ambitious infrastructure projects, including a Chinese-funded, 1.5-billion-dollar port in the southern town of Hambantota.
He has also rejected allegations that the army may have been responsible for substantial civilian deaths during its final offensive against the Tamil Tigers, and dismissed calls for an international inquiry.
The central bank expects Sri Lanka's economy to grow 8.0 percent in 2010, up from 3.5 percent last year, and Rajapakse has promised to double GDP per capita to 4,000 dollars by the end of his second term in 2016.
Political analyst Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu said the sharp focus on economic recovery would leave the issue of reconciliation with the island's Tamil minority on the backburner.
"Any talk about political reform is considered irrelevant at best and subversive at worst," he said.
Friday's inauguration came 10 months after the president's re-election victory in January's presidential polls. Rajapakse had called the vote two years early to take advantage of his high ratings after crushing the Tigers.
The Supreme Court ruled that his inauguration should be delayed until the anniversary of his initial November 2005 presidential win.
Rajapakse's main political rival, former army chief Sarath Fonseka, is currently serving a 30-month jail sentence after a court martial found him guilty of military procurement offences.
Fonseka's wife, Anoma, dashed coconuts at a Hindu temple in Colombo on Friday, seeking divine intervention to secure the release of her husband.
With no visible political threat on the horizon, Rajapakse is able to look beyond even his second mandate thanks to the constitutional changes pushed through in September that also scrapped a two-term limit on the presidency.
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