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President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that his primary objective is to ease the burden on the lives of the people.
He emphasized the importance of upholding the agreements made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and moving forward with them. The President noted that it is not feasible to alter these agreements, contrary to the claims made by Sajith and Anura.
Additionally, President Wickremesinghe pointed out that Sajith and Anura's proposals lack the approval of the IMF. The IMF's support is firmly behind the government's current program. Julie Kozak, the IMF’s Communications Director, has officially confirmed that protecting Sri Lanka's progress under the IMF program is crucial for future advancement.
President Wickremesinghe made these remarks during the "Ranil ta Puluwan" (Ranil Can) victory rally held at the Horana Public Stadium this afternoon (15). The rally, which drew a large crowd, was organized to affirm his support for the upcoming presidential election.
My primary goal is to ease the burden on people’s lives. We must continue to uphold our agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as we have no other source of support. The IMF has facilitated aid from 18 countries and provided us with a $10 billion advantage in managing our debt interest payments.
We need to transition to an export-driven economy. We cannot sustain borrowing indefinitely, especially when our import expenses exceed our export income. To keep our economy strong, we must focus on building an export economy and modernizing our economic practices. Providing subsidies alone will not advance our country; we need to develop a robust economy together.
People are enduring hardships for the sake of their children’s future. We must build a prosperous nation for them. Sajith and Anura are promising everything for free, but this is not feasible. They are misleading people to secure votes. Despite their claims of negotiating with the IMF, no such discussions have taken place.
The IMF has emphasized the importance of achieving the objectives of our current program to help Sri Lanka emerge from its severe economic crisis. They have stressed the need to continue implementing economic reforms, which means I must carry on with the program I initiated. I am the only one capable of advancing this program.
The decision on the next presidential election rests with the people of Sri Lanka. According to the IMF, our program has made significant progress, and it is crucial to protect the gains we have achieved to fully recover from this crisis. Neither Sajith nor Anura will receive support from the IMF; that support is for our program. Therefore, the choice is whether to fall for their misleading promises or to continue with the path we’ve set.
To safeguard the country’s economy and your future, I urge you to support me by voting for the Gas Cylinder on September 21.”
We have already implemented measures to address the longstanding issue of salt water contaminating the river water in the Kalutara district. The government has initiated a program to produce Kitul Ra in Kalutara and has signed an agreement with China to control saltwater intrusion and rehabilitate abandoned paddy lands.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe assumed leadership during a time of crisis, when no other leader willing to advocate for the people stepped up to manage the country’s difficulties. He took charge and worked diligently to secure the people’s right to a stable life, and today, the results of his efforts are evident.
Under the leadership of President Wickremesinghe, the country’s economy was managed and rescued from the brink of bankruptcy. “Aswesuma” program were established to support the people, and freehold land rights were granted through the “Urumaya” program. Additionally, plans were made to create plantation villages. Whether the country will continue on a path of recovery or face further setbacks will be determined on September 21st. To ensure continued economic progress, it is essential that we re-elect Ranil Wickremesinghe as President.
If the country falls into the hands of Anura Dissanayake, be prepared for a return to darkness. We have seen the destructive legacy of the JVP from the 1971 and 1989 uprisings, where they set fire to transformers, burned buses, and claimed to be advancing the economy. If you desire a repeat of such chaos, then support the JVP. However, keep in mind that fleeting rallies and unrest cannot drive economic development. If we regress into anarchy, there will be no leader capable of restoring order. Therefore, cast your vote wisely in this presidential election.
Anura Dissanayake has suggested that if he becomes president, he will retain only the competent ministers and continue with the current Cabinet. However, we are not prepared to join a Cabinet led by the JVP. However, they also suggest that a general election will grant the JVP an additional 40 seats. To form a government, a majority of 112 votes in parliament is required, and it’s clear that we do not intend to govern in coalition with the JVP. Their actions risk plunging the country into anarchy. Let’s secure the victory of President Ranil Wckremesinghe to strengthen and advance our country’s economy.
These are pivotal days for our country. In 2022, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was offered the presidency, but Sajith Premadasa declined it. Karl Marx argued that the capitalist class would never willingly relinquish power to the proletariat. Despite this, capitalist Gotabaya Rajapaksa invited Anura Dissanayake, who claimed to represent the proletariat, to take on state power. Dissanayake rejected that offer then but is now attempting to secure the presidency by spinning fanciful narratives on stages.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe took on the leadership role and fought to secure the people’s right to a stable life. He has worked to reduce inflation to single digit. If the agreement made with the IMF falters, the country risks regressing. Greece, for example, went bankrupt and it took 13 years for them to return to the IMF and restore their economy. Socialist parties in Greece could only govern for three months, and the country experienced four different governments within a year before recovering from its crisis.
President Wickremesinghe has prevented a similar situation in Sri Lanka. However, if the country faces another crisis, no other leader may step forward to address it. Opposition groups contributed to Greece’s turmoil, and we must carefully consider whether we want to risk sending our country down a similar path. Please cast your vote on September 21 with this in mind.
It must be acknowledged that President Ranil Wickremesinghe is the leader who, in just two years, has managed to recover 50% of the country from its fallen state. He is running in this Presidential Election to complete the remaining work. I am on this stage today not because of anyone else here, but solely because of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Today, not only our people but also the international community recognize that President Ranil Wickremesinghe is the only leader capable of rebuilding this country. It is our duty and responsibility to re-elect him as President and give him the chance to develop the country for future generations.
The event was attended by the Chief Incumbent of Wewala Isipathanaramaya the Registrar of the Horana Sasanarakshaka Board and Deputy Director of Piriven Education at the Ministry of Education Tamjanthanne Dhammaransi Thero, Director General of Piriven Education at the Ministry of Education Dr. Kumbalgoda Dhammaloka Thero, Coordinating Teacher Advisor of the Ministry of education Maligathanne Panjarathana Thero, prominent religious clerics; Minister Ali Sabry, former MPs Thalatha Athukorala and Lakshman Wijemanna and a large number of District political leaders representing various parties were present at the event.
