Failure to Address the Truth Led to the Collapse of Sri Lanka's Economic and Political Systems

• Leaders Advocating for Change Are Still Following the Same Old Path.

• No Room Left for Economic Mismanagement in the Country.

• Both Corrupt and Irresponsible Politicians Should Be Kept Out of Parliament -President says at the Meeting with Tutors.

• We Haven’t Voted for President Wickremesinghe Yet, But He is the Leader Sri Lanka Needs Today.

• It’s the Duty of All Sri Lankans to Unite and Support the President, Beyond Party or Politics- Say Tuition Teachers.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the country's economy and political system collapsed because politicians were unwilling to speak the truth and took on massive debt to fulfil promises made to the people.

The President pointed out that even the leaders calling for change today are following the same path, and emphasized that no one would be allowed to play games with the economy anymore.

President Ranil wickremesinghe made these remarks yesterday (13) while addressing a gathering of private tuition masters/teachers at the Water’s Edge Hotel in Battaramulla.

The event, organized under the banner "Teachers Who Think About the Country," (Rata Gana Sithana Guru Pawura) was attended by a large number of tuition masters/teachers from various parts of the island.

President Wickremesinghe further stressed that corrupt and irresponsible politicians should no longer be elected to Parliament.

He recalled that when the country was in crisis, he invited other political leaders to join in rebuilding the economy, but they shirked their responsibilities.

Several tuition masters/teachers also spoke at the event, noting that while they had not previously voted for President Wickremesinghe, they now support him because of the economic recovery plans the President implemented during the country’s financial collapse. They emphasized that it is the duty of all Sri Lankans to strengthen the President’s policies, regardless of party or political affiliation.

The teachers also highlighted that only President Ranil Wickremesinghe, a leader with profound knowledge of politics and governance, is capable of steering the country's economy forward.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe further expressed his views during the event, stating:

This election is crucial. It will shape the future of our country and its people. Following the economic collapse, we worked hard to restore stability and reached agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and 18 loan-granting nations. This election will decide whether we continue to adhere to these agreements or not.

Other candidates claim they can secure approval from the IMF to deviate from this agreement. However, they have yet to provide details on how they plan to achieve this. The sustainability agreement has two components: one for low-income countries and one for middle-income countries. The methodology is clearly outlined on the IMF's website and remains unchanged. We can only adjust the facts within the framework provided.

Today, other candidates are promising to make changes, but they’re just repeating old political tactics. The current economic crisis was a direct result of these out-dated practices. For years, no one was willing to face the truth. In the last election, I highlighted the need for USD 06 billion to address our economic issues, but my warning was ignored.

Our political system has been built on the practice of making grand promises to win public favour, often by taking on enormous loans to fulfil these promises. Ultimately, this has led to an unsustainable debt burden and the collapse of our economy. When the crisis hit, no one stepped up to lead the country, and the existing government had to step down. No one wanted to take responsibility, fearing it would damage their political future.

We need to reform both our economic and political systems. True change isn’t just about replacing leaders; it’s about shifting to an export-driven economy. We must set our sights on the future, aiming for 2048 and beyond, to ensure a better future for our country and our children.

Our plan includes transitioning to an export economy, promoting a green economy, and embracing a digital economy. We need to stabilize the rupee and diversify our revenue sources. Modernizing agriculture is crucial for boosting export potential, especially as the global population grows from 7 to 9 billion. We must prepare to feed the additional 2 billion people, while also advancing tourism and adopting new technologies.

Additionally, we must drive social change in our country. We've already introduced a consolation “Aswesuma” and “Urumaya” programs to provide relief and freehold land rights. Despite these efforts, our farmers have achieved rice self-sufficiency without proper land rights—something we need to rectify. We must ensure land rights for farmers, address the issue of plantation line rooms creating villages without adequate housing, and empower women.

Establishing a Social Justice Commission will also contribute significantly to societal improvements. As we move forward, we must build a society that aligns with the needs and challenges of 2048.

We’ve been mired in the debate over whether to abolish the Executive Presidential system or retain it. Yet, those who promised to eliminate the Executive Presidency have, in fact, maintained it. Instead of continuing this debate, we should focus on other pressing national issues. The real problem isn’t the title of Executive President or Executive Prime Minister; it’s whether our youth have access to jobs and income.

Politicians have consistently avoided addressing these critical issues. We need to increase representation for women and youth and overhaul the provincial council system. Without such changes, the future of our country is at risk. As an independent candidate in this year’s Presidential Election, my goal is to unite people and move forward with meaningful reforms.

Political parties are essential, but politics must align with the needs of our country. The current political system has failed us, as no one stepped up to take responsibility during times of crisis. We must remember this failure. We should not elect individuals who evade responsibility or engage in corrupt practices. Our focus should be on electing leaders who are committed and accountable.

I have repeatedly invited all leaders to join efforts in rebuilding our country, but they have not responded. They seemed to believe that they could seize power if the country were to collapse. However, the country did not fall apart. Instead, we have introduced the "Puluwan Sri Lanka" program, which aims to transform our political, economic and social sectors.

In the upcoming Presidential Election, voters are encouraged to consider whether they want to revert to the status queue of 2022, remain focused on individual interests, or support measures aimed at strengthening the country’s economy and driving progress.

Minister Bandula Gunawardana, State Minister Sisira Jayakody, and several other guests attended the event.