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President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that IMF representatives are scheduled to visit Sri Lanka in two weeks to disburse the next instalment of funds, as outlined in the agreement between the Sri Lankan government and the International Monetary Fund.
The President emphasized that on September 21, the public will have to decide whether to approve changes to the IMF agreement, which could result in losing the financial concessions currently on offer.
President Wickremesinghe made these statements while speaking at the "Ranil Can" (Ranil ta Puluwan) victory rally held at the Kalutara Public Stadium today (18). The rally, attended by a large crowd, was organized to solidify support for President Wickremesinghe’s candidacy in the upcoming presidential election.
He said Anura Kumara Dissanayake remarked today that Sri Lanka's economy has improved under Ranil Wickremesinghe's leadership. He also noted that Dissanayake had pledged to step down in a year and a half if he fails to lead the country effectively.
Similarly, President Wickremesinghe mentioned that Sajith Premadasa had been invited to a television program to discuss his plans but chose not to attend. He urged the public not to entrust the country to such leaders who fail to present a clear vision for the future.
“I ask the people if they can trust leaders who abandon their responsibilities at the first sign of trouble. Today, we have managed to steer our economy, which was once sinking like the Titanic, back on course. Now, the choice is whether to change the captain and alter our course while the ship is docked.
We need to rethink our approach and move forward. This country has a promising future, and we cannot afford to return to the conditions of 2022. Therefore, on September 21, I am seeking your mandate to build a better future for our youth.
Currently, Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake are preparing to reverse the progress we have made. In two weeks, representatives from the International Monetary Fund will arrive in Sri Lanka to provide the next installment of funding. If we decide to alter the agreement, the IMF will withhold the funds, potentially leading to another economic collapse. It is up to the people to decide if we want to risk this.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake has acknowledged that the economy has improved under my leadership and suggested that the current system might need to continue. Yet, he claims he will step down in a year and a half if he fails to make progress. I question why he seeks to take over if he is not prepared to lead effectively.
Sajith Premadasa was invited to a television program yesterday to discuss his plans, but he did not show up. Can we entrust our country to someone who cannot clearly present their vision to the public? Sajith and Anura have demonstrated that they are not capable of leading this country forward.
Therefore, the choice is clear: we must decide whether to advance as a nation or revert to the status quo of 2022. I urge you to vote for the Gas Cylinder for progress and a strong economy on September 21.”
The people of Kalutara have lived with pride. The Panadura movement has been a source of pride for the Kalutara District. A young man who contributed to the district by distributing a seed of a jackfruit was honoured with the title of "Kos Mama" and initiated a program to provide sustenance for the country. Since ancient times, the Raigama area has contributed to Sri Lanka's struggle for independence.
From the moment we are born, religion is a part of our lives. The spiritual guidance provided by this religion has led people on the right path. Even with the presence of religion, some things happening in certain places are beyond inquiry. Some political leaders are hopeful for a secular state, but we must work to prevent the reactionary forces that arise from a sense of liberation in this country. These groups are striving to create a society devoid of religion and to establish a purely secular community.
In 1988-89, we were at the university, and we all remember the suffering experienced by the people during that time. Currently, these individuals are making threats by visiting house to house and they are threatening people to vote for them, stating that they will be closely monitoring. We also remember that during that their tenure, 1,306 monks were killed.
Some factions from the SLPP have joined with Sajith Premadasa. During their tenure, these individuals imposed fines on the monks in the forests. The current government has provided a fair value for rubber and tea cultivation in the Kalutara District. Even without going into detail, it is clear that President Ranil Wickremesinghe's vision is well-defined, and his plans are transparent. Therefore, I appeal to the people to lend your support to this capable team to lead the country forward.
My friend Rohitha Abeygunawardena invited me to this meeting and asked me to speak on behalf of the SLPP. We belong to a left-wing group that embodies the five significant pillars: Sangha, Veda, Guru, and Labour. Throughout my 40 years in politics, I have never cast a vote for President Ranil Wickremesinghe and lacked any intention of doing so. Our political and ideological viewpoints differed greatly. After Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's defeat, he took the initiative to travel across the country in an effort to establish a government, while we were expelled from the SLFP. Following our removal from the SLFP, we created the SLPP to represent the group upholding those five significant pillars. During the grassroots organization efforts of the SLPP, it was the leader from this district who devised the program, actively implementing it within the villages to strengthen our political party in the country.
Unfortunately, we were unable to manage the economic crisis caused by the Covid pandemic. We had 156 MPs in the Parliament. Gotabaya was able to get the power by giving 6.9 million votes to the President. At that time, Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the President of our government. Mahinda Rajapaksa was the Prime Minister of that government. Basil Rajapaksa was the Minister of Finance. Chamal Rajapaksa was a Cabinet Minister and Namal Rajapaksa was also in the Parliament with o5 ministerial positions. A sixth of the cabinet was occupied by the Rajapaksas. We talked about the economic crisis in the country in the cabinet when various issues surfaced. Then, the foreign reserves shrink. A group of ministers suggest that we go to the IMF. A group said no. That day, the “Viyathmaga” group came and said, "Don't go to the IMF. If you go, you won't be able to give the subsidies and you won't be able to move the country." But in the end, our group of MPs was reduced to 123 because they did not listen to what we said. All others went and sat independently in the opposition. We caught up very hard. But the situation became more and more dangerous. Due to the “Aragalaya”, President Gotabaya had to leave the country and Mahinda Rajapaksa left the Prime Minister-ship.
We pledged unwavering support for whoever takes over this country. We pledged to assist Sajith Premadasa in assuming control of the country. He said that the country cannot be recovered in ten years. Fire is a lot. Accepting this will cause trouble. Former minister of agriculture Anura Kumara Dissanayake was a failed minister as well. He also refused to accept this country. The country will be handed over to President Ranil Wickremesinghe. He was a single MP. He was told to provide a solution to the suffering of the people. The first thing President Ranil Wickremesinghe did was establish democracy in the country. Not only did he establish law and order, but he worked to free the country from the violent situation that existed in this country. Otherwise today this country will also become Bangladesh.
He was able to recover the country within two years, which was said to be impossible to recover in ten years. A bankrupt country is not helped or given a loan. According to the international relations that President Ranil Wickremesinghe had, he went from country to country, met with state leaders, contacted the IMF, and saved the country from bankruptcy. There was no one to take over the country. Thirty-eight (38) candidates have come to take over the country after it was freed from bankruptcy. Today, 104 MPs from the SLPP have joined with us. On the 21st, I request that you go to the polling station and you’re your vote to “Gas Cylinder” to support President Wickremesinghe in his plan to return the country to a safe place.
If power goes to Anura Kumara Dissanayake, no one can stop the country from going dark. We recall what they did and said both in 1971 and in 1988-1989. We were well aware about what they did in 2022. When the economy was in crisis, instead of finding solutions, Anura Dissanayake set fire to houses and properties. If they really were capable of solving the crisis, they would have come and taken over the government without burning property. The opposition groups were invited to take over the country by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
They opted to burn down property instead of taking over the country and resolving the financial crisis. To forget the harm JVP has done to the country, we must die and rise again. In 1989, 60, 000 youths were killed because of the activities of the JVP. Therefore, we must say that Kalutara is ready to defeat Anura Dissanayake and Sajith Premadasa together on the 21st.
When the country's economy was in turmoil, Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake left the scene. Similarly, during yesterday's electoral debate, Sajith Premadasa withdrew, as he is unable to engage in live discussions.
The current moment is crucial. In just three days, the Presidential Election will determine the new President of this country. This election will shape the future of our nation. I urge you to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has successfully managed the economic crisis, with your valuable vote to help stabilize our economy.
During the severe crisis the country faced, the opposition leader was advised by his economic experts not to take over. While the people were suffering, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who was urged to lead the struggle, did not step forward to take responsibility for the country. Now, Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake are making false statements and seeking power in the Presidential Election.
The public has witnessed their actions from two years ago. Consider whether you want to entrust the country once again to leaders whose previous track records are known. Swapping leadership alone cannot fix the economy. Inflation was at 71% in 2022, and President Wickremesinghe has worked to bring it under control. Look at the global examples; no socialist-led nations has prospered after taking power through protests—consider Greece, Venezuela, Lebanon, and Bangladesh. Thus, the only leader capable of establishing a modern, developed state is Ranil Wickremesinghe. Let us commit to his success.
When President Ranil Wickremesinghe assumed office as Prime Minister, the country was in a dire crisis. During that time, protesters even set fire to your private residence. While your home was burning, you worked to extinguish the larger national crisis. We held great respect for you then. We understood that you are not someone who abandons the people in times of distress. You not only safeguarded the right of the people to live but also worked to rescue the country from bankruptcy. The people are aware of this. In the Kalutara District, citizens are steadfastly supporting the President's victory to ensure it is achieved.
A distinguished gathering at this event included the Maha Sangha, other religious leaders, Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe, Eastern Province Governor Senthil Thondaman, Minister Ali Sabry, former Parliamentarian Lakshman Wijemanna, former Provincial Councillors, and political representatives of the area.
