Sri Lankan president vows to continue fight against corruption

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has insisted that the fight against corruption will continue in the island nation even as a new united government began work on Tuesday.

Addressing the Sri Lankan parliament which convened for the first time after the Aug. 17 parliamentary elections, Sirisena said he will continue the work that he had begun when he took office after the Jan. 8 presidential election.

He further said that it is in the hands of the new parliament to decide on the executive presidential system.

"My government will continue to crackdown on corruption and punish those who exploit national resources no matter who they are and there will be no political interference in the appointment of officials", he said while addressing the MPs in parliament.

The president added that the new government would focus on a Asia centric foreign policy and would look to maintain good relations with all the countries. "We need the support of the international community."

He also extended an open invitation to Sri Lankan professionals working overseas to return to the country and contribute to Sri Lanka's economy.

Sirisena arrived in parliament to ceremoniously inaugurate the sessions and was greeted by the new speaker of parliament Karu Jayasuriya.

Earlier on Tuesday, 225 members took oaths before the speaker to convene parliamentary sessions after the ruling United National Party (UNP) led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe won the parliamentary poll to form a new government.

The UNP defeated the main opposition United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) by winning 106 seats while the UPFA won 95 seats.

Source: XINHUA