Mahinda Rajapaksa Quotes

Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa , more commonly known as Mahinda Rajapaksa is a Sri Lankan politician who was appointed as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on 26 October 2018. He previously served as the sixth President of Sri Lanka from 19 November 2005 to 9 January 2015.

A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1970, and he served as prime minister from 6 April 2004 until his victory in the 2005 presidential election. He was sworn in for his first six-year term as president on 19 November 2005. He was re-elected for a second term on 27 January 2010. He was defeated in his bid for a third term in the 2015 presidential election by Maithripala Sirisena and left office on 9 January 2015.Several months after leaving office, Rajapaksa unsuccessfully sought to become prime minister in the 2015 parliamentary election, where the United People's Freedom Alliance was defeated. He was, however, elected as Member of Parliament for Kurunegala District.On the 26 October 2018, Rajapaksa was appointed as Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena after the United People’s Freedom Alliance withdrew from the unity government. Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe refused to accept the dismissal stating that it was unconstitutional, resulting in a 2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis.

✵ 18. November 1945
Mahinda Rajapaksa photo
Mahinda Rajapaksa: 14   quotes 1   like

Famous Mahinda Rajapaksa Quotes

“Discipline is not revenge. The nation can only be built through commitment, discipline and elimination of corruption.”

Quoted in The Hindu, "Rajapaksa promises peace and prosperity at Independence Day speech" http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article100524.ece, February 4, 2010.

“It is a revolution against a dictator [referring to Rajapaksa]. This should be a lesson for all South Asian countries. This verdict has opened up a free space through which the democratic values and reforms can be pushed in. People really wanted a change and wished to end the authoritarian rule of Rajapaksa.”

Kushal Perera, a political analyst and writer on Mahinda Rajapaksa loosing to Maithripala Sirisena in 2015, quoted on The Indian Express (January 9, 2015), "Maithripala Sirisena sworn-in as Sri Lanka’s new President" http://indianexpress.com/article/world/neighbours/maithripala-sirisena-sworn-in-as-sri-lankas-new-president/
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“Reflecting on the work of the UN, matters of a political nature have overridden the most basic issues, which affect the underprivileged and marginalized, who dominate world society.”

United Nations, Sri "Lanka urges UN to study global inequality, failure to lift millions out of poverty" http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp/html/story.asp?NewsID=45978&Cr=general+assembly&Cr1=, 24 September 2013.

“If there is any violations, we will take actions against anybody, anybody. I am ready to do that.”

Quoted in BBC News, "Sri Lanka's Mahinda Rajapaksa hits out at critics" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24936948, November 14, 2013; and quoted from Indepentdent.ie, "Sri Lanka defends rights record" http://www.independent.ie/world-news/sri-lanka-defends-rights-record-29754169.html, 14 November, 2013.

“If anyone who wants to complain about human rights violations in Sri Lanka, whether it's torture, whether it is rape, we have a system.”

Quoted in Independent.ie, "Sri Lanka defends rights record" http://www.independent.ie/world-news/sri-lanka-defends-rights-record-29754169.html, 14 November, 2013.

“I say: be fair. Be objective. Don't just come to conclusions based on one-sided "evidence."”

Interview with Hindustan Times http://www.hindustantimes.com/comment/interviewsnews/full-text-of-ht-s-exclusive-interview-with-lankan-president-rajapaksa/article1-1123091.aspx, September 17, 2013.

“I have succeeded in uniting the territory. Now, I am entrusted with the task of uniting the hearts of all sections of our people. I willingly take over the noble task of creating peace among our communities.”

Quoted in The Hindu, "Rajapaksa promises peace and prosperity at Independence Day speech" http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article100524.ece, February 4, 2010.

Mahinda Rajapaksa Quotes about homeland

“We need an alternative. In the end, they [the US and the West] are not punishing Iran. They are punishing us, small countries.”

On the United States' and European Union's combined sanctions against Iran, as quoted in The Hindu, "U.S. move hits small nations: Rajapaksa" http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-move-hits-small-nations-rajapaksa/article2847388.ece, January 31, 2012.

“All international laws are made by big, powerful countries but applied only on weaker ones like ours.”

Interview with Hindustan Times http://www.hindustantimes.com/comment/interviewsnews/full-text-of-ht-s-exclusive-interview-with-lankan-president-rajapaksa/article1-1123091.aspx, September 17, 2013.

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