Why I Entered PoliticsJayadeva de Silva

Leader of the Colombo district Independent Group9 contesting 2015 SriLanka general election under symbol electric torch

My journey into politics began several decades ago. As young father I was concerned about many issues”

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Will my children be able obtain a decent job; earn a living wage from a meaningful job?

Will their society be peaceful enough to live without fear or danger?

As I studied economic, social, and environmental trends, I realized that I – and my entire generation – had to come forward to provide a place to live for children and grandchildren  We have to help make sure that our children and grandchildren don't have to clean up our messes., pay the penalties for the inaction of our generation.

It's as simple as that. And it's as difficult as that.

We have to take care of business in a way that we do not hand on a debt of troubles to our children, and to their children.

You know, we have common goals. Achieving them need not divide us along party lines.

Social justice and fairness to future generations do not belong to any one party.

Fiscal foresight and responsibility do not belong to any one party.

Environmental protection does not belong to any one party.

The urgency of these challenges motivates us all.

But I am an independent candidate, and here’s what that means to me:  We believe that every person should have an equal opportunity to realize their potential to the fullest extent possible; we believe that the government must empower people to achieve these aspirations.  When I say empower, I mean ensuring that all people have access to basics like shelter, a solid education, decent health care, a healthy natural environment, safe communities, and security in old age.

We must remind our fellow citizens that government has a necessary role to play in ensuring the welfare of current and future generations and in creating a sustainable society. And we must ask our citizens to become engaged, so that they will choose political leaders capable of doing this essential job and hold them accountable for it.

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