In his speech at the function to present the National Awards of Honour and National Awards of Recognition, President Dr Mohamed Waheed has said that the state has not gained satisfactory benefits of the reforms to that are envisioned in the Constitution.
He said while it has become the norm to take undue advantage of the weaknesses in the laws, what could be seen now was some people taking advantage of the loopholes in a very young and incomplete constitutional framework, in a very divided society.
He said, evidences of this could be seen in different areas of the state.
“We see a person who does not have the approval of the People’s Majlis, in charge of the highest number of state employees. We are in a situation where the people doubt the highest court in the country. Suspects in criminal cases are in state institutions. Murderers and people who have committed arson roam freely in the streets. The rights of women and children are unprotected”, he said.
President also said that the country is now in such a state where the person who has the loudest voice was the most powerful and that it was saddening that those who remain within the limits of law are forced to stay at home.
In his speech, President said while we must all be concerned about the problems in the country, we must also celebrate and be proud of the progress the country has made. He said, tonight’s function was one such celebration.
He said the function was a celebration of all those who are serving the nation. He, therefore, congratulated all the winners of the National Award of Honour, the National Award of Recognition and the Award for Special Achievement.
In his speech, President also said it was important for a smooth functioning of the Constitutional framework, to enable whichever candidate that wins the upcoming presidential elections to takeover the role of the President.
