Special Election Meeting in Negombo, Attended by Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe
Since Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake do not have the majority, the former President and United National Party leader, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, raised the question today (27) of what the difference is between him and the President.
Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the President had told him to stay at home if he lost and stated that he accepts the fact that the majority of people did not vote for him. Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe also said, “I am the former president without a majority. He is the current president without a majority.”
The public rally was held in Negombo to ensure the victory of the candidates running for the Gampaha district under the symbol of the gas cylinder from the New Democratic Front. This is the first public rally to be held with the participation of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe for this year’s general election.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe also said:
“I first came into politics from the Gampaha district. I contested in 1977 and was appointed as an MP. There was no separate district called Gampaha then. This is the northern part of Gampaha. Accordingly, we made a request of President J. R. Jayawardena to recognize Gampaha as a separate district. That was how this district was started. This was an undeveloped district then. It was during that period that the Katunayake and Biyagama free trade zones were started. Many villages and houses were created under President Premadasa. Cities were developed. The Ekala area was developed. The airport was developed. As a result, great progress was made.
By now, Gampaha has become a major district. After the UNP’s defeat, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga represented the district. She also developed areas like Vatupitiwala and took that development further. Today, Gampaha is the most populous district in Sri Lanka. This is a district that can compete side by side with Colombo. The two parties, UNP and Sri Lanka Freedom Party, ensured much progress in this area.
I came here today to ask you to vote for the gas cylinder. When the country collapsed, there was no one else to take responsibility. Neither Sajith nor Anura were there. There was no one to become the prime minister. One day, Nimal Lansa called me and asked me if I could become the Prime Minister. I asked him how he planned on making me the prime minister. Nimal Lanza told me that everyone will accept this proposal. Accordingly, I went to meet the then President and accepted that challenge.
After some time, the President also relinquished his post. No one was there when the Parliament was surrounded. All those who are now demanding leadership of the country ran away that day. We used the army to protect this country. After that, there were requests for me to appear in the parliamentary elections. After that, a majority in the parliament was gathered, and a government was formed.
Today we are freed from bankruptcy. No one thought that it would be possible. We did not allow our country to fall. In the presidential election, we ran from the cylinder. All these people who are contesting today’s general election from the gas cylinder are an experienced group. Who is running for Gampaha? Do you know who they are?
There are experienced people here. We are the only one who has presented a candidate who knows about climate change. Ruwan Wijayawardena is someone who knows climate change very well. He has acted as my deputy in this regard. He has participated in international conferences. Are there people like this in the NPP?
There were no queues for coconuts during Nalin Fernando’s ministerial tenure. Minister Lasantha is someone who knows about road transport. So vote for the cylinder and send these people to parliament.
People say that Anura Dissanayake is only there for three months. I don’t say such things. He should continue this journey as President. I don’t know if there will be an impeachment from his party. Such things should not be done.
But if you see their list, I don’t think that his government will last three months, maybe not even three weeks. So you should vote for those who can lead the country. If the experienced individuals are in the parliament, the President can lead the country for three years. If not, there will be more queues in the country instead of just coconut queues.
Anura has told me to stay at home if I lose. I accept that. I ran for the presidential election and requested people to vote for me. The majority did not vote for me. So I lost. But neither has he been given a majority either. 51% did not vote for the President.
So what is the difference between you and him? I am the former president without majority. He is the president without a majority. Like him, I do not have the majority. So what is special? We are both the same.
I now say that he is struggling. I raised certain issues because Minister Vijitha Herath is harassing government employees. There was a big protest in this country to increase wages. They even started strikes with the support of the NPP. Accordingly, a committee headed by Udaya Seneviratne was appointed to increase the salaries of public servants.
Before that, I had also given ten thousand rupees. Later, the Udaya Seneviratne Committee handed over their report. The Treasury Secretary said that it is not possible to increase the salaries they presented. I told Mr. Udaya Seneviratne to talk to our secretary. Then the Treasury wanted to increase the salaries of two sections. Accordingly, it was agreed to give half of the salary increase this year and the second half next year. In fact, the value of Sri Lanka’s currency decreased by fifty percent in 2022. So how will public servants survive on these low wages?
Their finance team should inform the public about the expenditure they plan for 2025. Our expenditure was limited to thirteen percent of the gross domestic product. We informed the public of all the expenses the Government incurred. According to that, we had entered the government employee salary increase into the expenditure register. That is why the Cabinet decision was taken.
What will be the expenditure limit for the 2025 budget? Minister Vijitha Herath stated that the decision taken by us was not an official decision. The trade union officers of our parties met me and explained what had happened to them after the election.
Then the President made a statement and said that these increases have been made as per my wish. I have not done so. The President had also said that I have not allocated the money. The money for the wage increase is appropriated in the 2025 Appropriations Act. The 2024 Appropriations Act cannot allocate money for 2025. Don’t you know that?
I appropriated money for the salary increase of ten thousand rupees in the 2024 Appropriation Act. We prepared the salary increase this time with the plan to include it in the 2025 Appropriation Act.
I discussed this salary increase with the Treasury Secretary, Mr. Mahinda Siriwardena, Dr. Samaratunga, my Economic Affairs Adviser, and the President’s Secretary, Saman Ekanayake.
Now they say that they are focusing on increasing wages. That does not matter. We have already taken a Cabinet decision; they must enact that existing decision.
Gampaha candidates have a special responsibility to implement it. Vijitha Herath, who spoke about you all, is in Gampaha. Mahinda Jayasinghe, who talked about public servants, is also in Gampaha. Anil Fernando, who talks about the economy, is also in Gampaha. Tell them not to vote for these people if they don’t get a raise.
We are competing to form a government and take these things forward. He can stay as president. There is no problem with that.”
United National Party Deputy Leader, Gampaha District Candidate, Mr. Ruwan Wijewardena:
“Our hope was to strengthen the country’s economy. Only Ranil Wickremesinghe has the ability to build the economy of this country. He was the only one who came forward when the country was bankrupt. He created a stable environment for all of us to live in.
But unfortunately, people took a different decision. We do not expect to pull the leg out from under the elected president. But we are not happy with some of his decisions. He has little experience. Taking over the leadership of the country is not an easy responsibility.
Due to Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe’s experience and knowledge, he was able to bring the country’s economy to a stable state. When we look at what Anura said then and what he says today, it seems contradictory. Even in this election, we should think about giving the right leadership to the country.
We do not think that it will be good for the country if a group of people without experience is appointed to the government. People don’t even know who the group is today. But we have a talented and experienced team. If the current leaders also have to give up their responsibilities, there should be an experienced team to take over from them and lead the country again.”
Former State Minister, Gampaha District Candidate, Mr. Nimal Lanza:
“What is the reason for calling the parliamentary elections so soon? They have realized that the NPP will face many disadvantages over time. Even though the people do not know that they cannot fulfill any of the promises they made to the people, the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna knows. A month after the presidential election, the people are beginning to understanding the true situation of the President’s party.
People understand that no matter what they say they came to power, now they have no plan. All these people are unable to work. Only we have the experience.
Gampaha district candidates Kokala Gunawardena, Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Mr. Nalin Fernando also participated in the meeting.
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