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President Ranil Wickremesinghe has pledged to address the burden of living costs for the people next year.
He emphasized that by further strengthening economic measures through effective management, he will be able to provide relief while maintaining economic stability. Although difficult decisions are necessary to recover a struggling economy, he assured that relief will ultimately be delivered.
President Wickremesinghe made these remarks at the "Ranil ta Puluwan” victory rally in Dehiwala yesterday (15). The rally, held to affirm his anticipated victory in the upcoming presidential election, drew a large and enthusiastic crowd that warmly welcomed the President.
In his speech, President Wickremesinghe also outlined his vision for a new economy, a renewed nation, and an updated political system. He asserted that his plan will deliver the new economy he envisions; stating that neither Sajith nor Anura could achieve this.
Thirty eight (38) candidates are running alongside me in the upcoming presidential election. However, two years ago, no one was willing to step forward to assume the roles of President or Prime Minister. At that time, I became Prime Minister simply because no one else was available to take on the position. As politicians, we have two fundamental responsibilities: first, to maintain law and order in the country, and second, to ensure the well-being of our people. Unfortunately, no one was ready to accept these responsibilities back then; they simply had no interest.
When the people of this country were struggling to access food, medicine, fuel, and gas, did those politicians not feel any regret? Did they not recognize their duty to address these urgent issues? Sajith and Anura, who failed to comprehend the suffering of the people at that time, are now seeking power. Today, after two years of effort, the country has achieved stability, and we have successfully strengthened the rupee.
As a result, the prices of essential food items are beginning to decrease.
However, many households still face significant challenges, particularly in balancing income and expenditure. I am committed to resolving these issues. Our goal is to win this battle next year as we continue to strengthen the rupee and improve the economic situation.
Recovering from similar crises has taken other countries a long time. I hoped that, rather than implementing the stringent measures those nations had to take, we could somehow protect everyone and stabilize the country in a different way. Today, we have made substantial progress.
However, this stability is not guaranteed. If we fail to adhere to the program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), all our progress could be jeopardized. I am seeking a mandate to continue this program and to solidify the economic stability we have achieved. My goal is to provide a new economic framework for the country, something neither Sajith nor Anura can deliver. They are promising various forms of relief to the public and claiming to be negotiating with the IMF. Anura Kumara invited me to a debate, and I agreed to participate, but so far, no debate has been scheduled.
The IMF has recently issued a statement reviewing the policy statements from all parties involved. Mrs. Julie Kozak, Director of the IMF's Communications Department, emphasized that "achieving the goals of the program is crucial for giving Sri Lanka a chance to overcome its most severe challenge in history. Continuing the reforms is essential. The decision regarding the upcoming presidential election should be made by the people of Sri Lanka. The program in Sri Lanka has made significant progress."
From this perspective, it is vital to maintain the gains achieved through the program to fully recover from the country's worst crisis. Therefore, the IMF has recommended continuing with the existing program as is. The IMF has not addressed the possibility of amending the current program, as suggested by Sajith or Anura.
“Malimawa” (NPP) had previously announced plans to launch a special program following discussions about our debt with the IMF. They suggested presenting an alternative debt sustainability analysis. However, as a middle-income country, we are unable to perform a debt consolidation analysis like low-income nations. Instead, we must adhere to the Market Risk and Sovereign Debt Sustainability Framework designed for countries with a market approach.
Are these individuals proposing to hand over control of our country? Sometimes, we must make very difficult decisions in the short term to achieve relief in the long run—much like the process of undergoing medical treatment. Therefore, I am asking for your mandate to continue this essential work. I have already initiated a program to build a new economy, a new country, and a new political system. To see this through, an experienced team is required. I request your support to grant me that mandate.
After assuming the presidency, President Ranil Wickremesinghe dedicated the first six months to stabilizing the country, earning significant trust from the international community. Through his efforts to create both political and economic stability, he restored normalcy by the end of his first year. During this period, he also implemented welfare programs to support low-income individuals amidst the economic crisis.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe is the leader with a clear plan for the people, including numerous development initiatives for Dehiwala and Mount Lavinia. On September 21, it is evident that no other candidate can match his ability to lead the country effectively, command parliamentary trust, and secure international confidence. Therefore, I urge everyone to unite in support and ensure victory for President Wickremesinghe by voting for the “Gas Cylinder”.
At a time when 22 million people in this country were facing severe hardships, Mr. Sajith Premadasa declared he was not prepared to take on any responsibility. Similarly, Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake evaded the situation by imposing various conditions. In that critical moment, only one person came forward, declaring, "I can." That person was the current President, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had just a single Parliamentary seat. Even in such circumstances, several MPs from both the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) extended their support to him while remaining in their respective parties. Their support was aimed at rescuing the nation from the deep crisis it was facing, in the best interest of the people.
Thanks to the collective efforts of everyone who worked tirelessly for the country, we have made significant progress today. The nation has reached a stable point. President Ranil Wickremesinghe has rebuilt the trust in Sri Lanka that had collapsed internationally when he took over. As a leader who has long engaged with the international community, he quickly restored that trust. The agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2022 further strengthened this confidence, allowing us to move the country forward.
Therefore, it is essential that the current President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, secures victory in the upcoming election to continue the hard-earned progress and turn this success into a lasting triumph for the nation.
In 2022, as the country faced severe economic challenges and was in desperate need of leadership, President Wickremesinghe stepped in without hesitation. Similar to the situation in Bangladesh today, there were attempts to seize power through intimidation, including setting fire to his house and destroying his library. Had he retreated at that time, the country might have descended into chaos like Bangladesh is experiencing now. Currently, Bangladesh is enduring a 19-hour daily power cut, and 213 garment factories have shut down. Sri Lankan investors in Bangladeshi garment factories are considering relocating their businesses to either another country or back to Sri Lanka within the next month.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe played a crucial role in preventing such devastation in Sri Lanka. Despite this, some individuals who fled the country during its most challenging times are now demanding power. On September 21, the citizens will face a critical decision: whether to continue advancing the country, which has been painstakingly rebuilt, or to halt progress and risk undoing the achievements made.
When a leader like President Ranil Wickremesinghe is a candidate for the Presidency, other candidates hold little relevance to the people of this area. Sir, you are my political mentor. Although I once found myself in a different political camp, I have now decided that I must work alongside the one person capable of leading this country.
We have always made mistakes by relying on parties, leaders, and camps. Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made us all despise politics, but thanks to you, sir, the people of this country are still surviving. Although the people rejected you in many elections, in the end, they had no choice but to entrust you with the Presidency, recognizing your value.
It was you who saved our country from heading towards a great disaster. To secure President Ranil Wickremesinghe's victory, we are working together in the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia constituency, putting aside party differences. However, there are some who call themselves the “Malima” group. These people don’t care if the country is ruined; they are filled with hatred and indifference.
None of us have forgotten the state of the country two years ago. This is why, wherever we go to speak to the people, they all declare that their vote is for President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Our election campaign throughout the electorate has been incredibly successful, with very positive responses from the public. The door-to-door campaign has been completed successfully, and in some areas, we have even visited households two or three times to convey our message. It is clear that a large number of people are now rallying around President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
On election day, when you hold your ballot paper and look down from the top to the third row, mark your valuable vote in front of the gas cylinder symbol and help secure the victory of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
