President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in an emotionally charged address told a gathering at the BMICH yesterday that she did what she had to do to the best of her ability during her 11 year tenure at the helm.
"I took blows but I did not wilt for I did what was good for my country" the President said at the function to pay tribute to her service to the nation.
She said she safeguarded media freedom to the extent of allowing certain media to repeatedly abuse her, since she was a firm believer media freedom and recalled the times when media personnel were thrown to the seas.
President Kumaratunga expressed the hope that her successor carries forward her legacy of standing steadfastly for a negotiated solution to the ethnic question since her battle was now half won being able to convince a recaltricant opposition that the solution put forward by her represented the way ahead.
President Kumaratunga said the immense trust placed in her by the ordinary people and most of her cabinet colleagues spurred her on to tread the path which she chose vis a visa the ethnic question, which first originated during her 1993 Southern Province Election campaign. "From there onwards I believed we found the way and from August 1995 onwards we presented these proposals to the country.
There was war but we went ahead with our proposals for a negotiated settlement", President Kumaratunga added. She said she took upon this responsibility squarely on her shoulder with some Ministers of her Cabinet backing her to the hilt while some less so, and this gave her the strength and courage to go all the way.
"If you are a leader you have to take radical decisions and the final decision lies fairly and squarely at your door". the President observed.
In this endeavour she was ready to take the slurs and insults of the private media and even some 'religious people".
"I am happy that I did not sway in my conviction on this issue", President Kumaratunga added. She said she still believe they had the solution but they should have the courage to say it loud and clear that would see an end to the calamitous conflict that has bedeviled the nation for the last 57 years. President Kumaratunga said the foundation for this process began under her Government and she hoped and wished those who follow her would continue the process without the trials and tribulations she had to undergo.
"Even though I have thought of devolution and a negotiated settlement I achieved nothing. To persuade over 65 per cent people now, when it was at 23 and to persuade the second major party in the country to openly accept the solution I proposed 11 years ago, that is devolution, is a huge success", the President claimed.
She added that the leader of this party is now talking much about devolution than her. "I think this is more than the half the battle won. Now, it is left for those who take over from me to take this forward or to take this backward" the President said adding that she hoped the latter would not happen.
She also said that she was telling all these not just to say how much she had done but just to see that people of this country must be fully aware of this legacy.
"It is up to the people the ensure that their leaders take this legacy forward whatever problems that may arise", the President remarked.
"Now both parties agree on this situation and the fact that the leader of the second major party is talking more about devolution than even herself was testimony to the huge success achieved by her in this respect.
"I go with great satisfaction and pride because I know I did not wilt against my conscience.I go with clean hands with no blood.But I go with my head held high ,I hope with some dignity.
She said she doubted if there was any leader in the world who had been abused as had been her lot at the hands of the private media during her entire term in office.Yet it was her firm belief to protect this right of expression even if she personally suffered by it.
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