January 01, Colombo (LNW): As Sri Lanka welcomes the year 2025, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya delivered a hopeful and reflective message, drawing attention to the nation’s transformative journey over the past year and the optimism that surrounds its future.
She celebrated the significant strides taken towards a more inclusive, forward-thinking society, where citizens have come together in their shared commitment to embrace change and foster unity.
The Prime Minister emphasised that the nation’s collective decision to pursue a new direction was not just about political change, but about the broader desire to build a society rooted in empathy, respect, and inclusivity.
“The people of Sri Lanka have made it clear that they are ready for change—change towards a political culture that is clean, people-centered, and grounded in compassion. Unity, not division, is the path they have chosen,” she remarked.
She went on to highlight her government’s unwavering commitment to improving critical areas such as the economy, industrial growth, and education.
“Our vision is clear: we want to build a future where every citizen can live with dignity, freedom, and peace. A future where no one is held back by their race, gender, ethnicity, or religion,” she asserted, underlining the importance of creating equal opportunities for all.
While reflecting on the challenges of the past, Prime Minister Amarasuriya acknowledged the missed opportunities for achieving national unity in previous years. She stressed that this was not a moment for regret, but rather a call to action.
“In the past, we have had moments when unity was within our reach, yet we failed to fully seize those chances. But this time, we cannot afford to let this opportunity slip away,” she stated, urging the nation to unite and safeguard the progress made.
“We must work together to preserve and build on the gains we have achieved, ensuring that we continue moving forward as one nation.“
Full Statement:
“This year has been a truly transformative year for us Sri Lankans. The citizens of this country have chosen change: a clean and people centered political culture and empathetic society, unity as opposed to division.
As a responsible government, we remain committed to uplifting the nation in various critical areas, including the economy, industry, and education. Our vision is to create a future where every citizen can live a peaceful, free, dignified and fulfilling life, transcending barriers of race, gender, ethnicity, or religion.
We have had several opportunities in the past to unite as a nation, but we failed to fully realize the benefits of those moments. However, we must now ensure that this opportunity is not missed and that we work collectively to preserve it. At this critical time, as the state is fully committed to serve the public, I urge everyone to step forward with determination as we enter the year 2025.
While the journey towards a brighter future is challenging, we have already taken significant steps towards achieving that goal. As we approach the threshold of a new year filled with hope and promise, I extend my sincere best wishes to all citizens for a peaceful, happy, and prosperous 2025.
I invite everyone to come together with a shared purpose, setting aside all differences, as we embark on this new year to ensure its success and work towards building a better future for the Sri Lanka. Our collective focus should be to restore the name of “Sri Lanka” as a proud and prosperous nation on the global stage.”
