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President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that he has earned the recognition of the majority for ensuring the supply of food, medicine, fuel, and other essentials during the economic crisis. He gratefully accepted this acknowledgment, emphasizing that he could not stand idle while people suffered, and took on the challenge of rebuilding the country for its citizens.
The President made these remarks during the "Ranil ta Puluwan" (Ranil Can) rally held in Narammala this afternoon (10th), which saw a large turnout in support of his re-election campaign. He further remarked that the people are unwilling to entrust their future to Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who were absent when the country faced hardships.
Highlighting the resilience of those who united to rebuild the economy during the last crisis, President Wickremesinghe expressed confidence that they are equally capable of shaping the nation's future. He added that this vision is embodied in the "Puluwan Sri Lanka" program.
You might be wondering why I am wearing this cap. An elderly lady gave it to me after I finished speaking at the Kilinochchi meeting. She gave me this cap as a token of gratitude for the efforts I made to provide them with food, medicine, fuel and gas. To me, this cap is worth more than 100,000.
I shared the deep concern I felt during the last economic crisis, seeing people suffer in long queues without access to food, medicine, fuel, and gas. I could not stand by and watch, which is why I took responsibility for alleviating that suffering and safeguarding the people’s right to live. Today, I am honoured by the gratitude of those who recognize that effort, and it means a great deal to me.
It is essential to ensure the right to life for the people of this country, as well as secure their livelihoods and job incomes. At the same time, the country's economy must continue to function, or it will collapse. Over the past two years, I was able to stabilize the economy while ensuring the people’s basic rights were protected.
Today, we are seeing progress, and the path for continued development has been laid out in the "Puluwan Sri Lanka" program. In 2023, when the economy began to strengthen, we provided reassurance to the people, enhancing the Samurdhi program to offer threefold benefit. Additionally, the number of beneficiaries was increased to 2.4 million.
Furthermore, we have issued free land deeds to those who previously held only land permits, significantly increasing the value of their property. Our goal is to implement the agricultural modernization program in these areas and strengthen the export economy.
As a result, Kurunegala is set to become a major city, with a new university being established and a large investment zone of 1,000 acres being developed in Bingiriya. Additionally, new factories are being opened in Kuliyapitiya, and we have plans to enhance education by creating digital learning centres.
My vision is to bring wealth to the villages and uplift rural communities, and we seek the people's support to achieve this. Today, Sajith and Anura are only offering empty words. In 2022, when the people were suffering in long queues, they were nowhere to be found. Now they claim they should be entrusted with the future of the country, but I know the people are not ready for that.
Let’s come together to develop the country. I urge everyone to vote for the gas cylinder on September 21 and support this movement for progress.
The situation when President Ranil Wickremesinghe took over the country is well-known to the public. At that time, there were power outages for 13 hours a day, and there was a severe shortage of medicine, fuel and gas. Taking advantage of the people's suffering, a group of extremists came forward and set the country on fire. In response, President Wickremesinghe worked to restore peace and establish the rule of law.
Utilizing his international relations, President Wickremesinghe arranged for payments to be made for oil tankers that had been stranded at the port. The international community was astonished by how he saved Sri Lanka from bankruptcy.
Additionally, President Wickremesinghe took measures to control the drug crisis in Sri Lanka, effectively managing drug use nationwide. He also succeeded in suppressing the underworld activities, with many involved still in custody. Efforts to apprehend and bring back individuals involved in violent acts abroad are on-going.
The public experienced great hardship before the past two years. Therefore, I urge you to give your valuable vote to President Ranil Wickremesinghe to lead the country to victory.
The people have had the opportunity to show their gratitude to the President Ranil Wickremesinghe for his performance. Our support is firmly with Ranil Wickremesinghe. The large crowds from Narammala have gathered here to express their support for the President. Just as Mahinda Rajapaksa received support for ending the thirty-year war, I am confident that the people of Kurunegala District will grant their support to President Ranil Wickremesinghe for his leadership in securing the right to live.
Groups that have burnt politicians' houses, buses, and property, and sought to seize power, are now peddling promises. The people are not ready to give them power. When the results are announced on the 22nd, not only Narammala but the entire Kurunegala District will see President Ranil Wickremesinghe winning with a significant majority.
Some opposition groups are selling empty political promises. They lack the capability to lead the country. If we return to experiments with leadership, we cannot prevent a returning the country to instability. Therefore, let us all unite to give the President the chance to continue advancing the country’s economic development over the next five years. Let’s ensure his victory.
Two years ago, when terrorists set fire to homes and buses and caused nationwide chaos, President Ranil Wickremesinghe took charge and worked to create a peaceful nation.
During a time when farmers were struggling due to a shortage of fertilizers, long queues formed for fuel, and inflation soared to 90%, the President took measures to ensure all essential services for the people.
He created an environment conducive to attracting tourists, bringing in a significant number. By effectively managing the economy using international relations, he was able to rescue the country from bankruptcy. We now have the opportunity to express our gratitude for his immense service to the country. On September 21, the people will have the chance to show their appreciation.
We are committed to supporting the President, setting aside our differences to cast our votes for Gas Cylinder.
In 2004, during President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's tenure, I worked within the government party. Anura Dissanayake, Bimal Ratnayake, and Namal Karunaratne were elected to Parliament from the Kurunegala District. Although they held ministerial positions, they did not contribute anything to the Kurunegala District. The people of Kurunegala are well aware of this. They are not prepared to hand over the country to these individuals again.
We are now at the final stage of the election campaign. The opposition groups began their campaigning two years ago, investing substantial amounts of money in their efforts. According to new regulations, an audit report detailing the expenditure of each candidate must be submitted to the Election Commission. Additionally, the new act imposes a limit on the amount of money a candidate can spend during the campaign.
Following the collapse of the economy, political leaders were forced to flee. The ruling party, which had secured 6.9 million votes and held a two-thirds majority in parliament, was compelled to withdraw due to the economic crisis.
The Easter attack in 2018 had a severe impact on Sri Lanka, as it led to a significant drop in tourism and a loss of billions of dollars in revenue annually. President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa then took steps to shut down the country in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision further decreased remittances, leaving the treasury without sufficient funds to cover essential needs such as food, fuel, gas, and medicine.
Had the former president sought assistance from the IMF, the economic collapse might have been avoided. However, former ministers threatened to resign if such a step was taken. Consequently, the country’s foreign reserves decreased to USD 20 million, and the government sometimes had to procure dollars from the black market to purchase necessary goods.
Amid these crises, a political struggle emerged, and the government struggled to address public grievances. The situation worsened as terrorist groups joined the unrest caused by shortages of electricity, fuel, and gas in Colombo. On May 9, 2022, law and order disintegrated, resulting in widespread anarchy. Property was set on fire, and no one stepped forward to protect it.
During this turmoil, Sri Lanka needed strong leadership. Gotabaya Rajapaksa extended an invitation to the opposition groups to assume control, but neither Sajith Premadasa nor Anura Dissanayake was willing to take on the responsibility. In contrast, President Ranil Wickremesinghe accepted the role unconditionally.
Looking at Bangladesh’s situation as a cautionary tale, we see a dire scenario where twenty-nine MPs and several police personnel have been killed. The opposition in Bangladesh was unwilling to take over the government, leading to the appointment of a Nobel Prize laureate with no political experience. This has resulted in oil and food shortages and a lack of effective governance, serving as a grim example for Sri Lanka.
In 2022, Sri Lanka was on the brink of disaster. Had Ranil Wickremesinghe not assumed the presidency, the country would still be struggling with fertilizer shortages. Thanks to his international connections, he was able to secure fertilizer, leading to the successful cultivation of six crops and stabilizing the economy. President Wickremesinghe’s approach demonstrates the effectiveness of experienced leadership in managing crises compared to inexperience. His tenure has shown how experience can guide a country through challenging times.
The next two weeks are incredibly crucial for the future of our country. It is essential that we make sacrifices and support President Ranil Wickremesinghe during this critical period, as the fate of our nation will be determined. The opposition groups have been advancing their own political agendas for the past two years, while President Wickremesinghe has been dedicated to fighting for your right to a stable and secure life.
President Wickremesinghe has not only ensured the basic needs of the people but has also worked to stabilize the country economically. He is now asking for the people's support to extend his efforts for another five years. I am confident that the people of Kurunegala will respond positively to this request and uphold the promise of justice and progress.
This presidential election is of immense significance. The outcome will determine the future of Sri Lanka. President Ranil Wickremesinghe took on the daunting task of rebuilding our economically devastated country and restored the people’s right to a stable life. It is crucial that we unite in support of his victory.
Leaders who evade challenges can only offer empty promises. Politics based on selling dreams does not provide the people with real, tangible rights or solutions. Therefore, in this presidential election, vote with your head rather than your heart, and support President Ranil Wickremesinghe for continued progress and stability.
The rally was attended by religious leaders led by the Maha Sangha, former PC members Lakshman Wendaruwa and Manjula Dissanayake, as well as various political leaders from the area.
