“Protect economy we’ve rebuilt by voting for Gas Cylinder on 21st”

President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that the most capable team to advance the country is the one that tackled the economic crisis head-on. The president also announced that he will request everyone to protect the hard-earned gains of the country’s economy by supporting the “Gas Cylinder” on September 21.

President Wickremesinghe made these remarks while speaking at the victory rally in Yapahuwa today (04). The rally was aimed at securing his victory in the upcoming presidential election.

At the rally, President Wickremesinghe was greeted with great enthusiasm. He highlighted that it was the farmers of Sri Lanka, not the 38 presidential candidates, who played a crucial role in overcoming the economic crisis.

Additionally, the President assured that the remaining work on the North-West Canal project would be completed promptly to benefit the farmers of the North-West.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe further explained;

Today, this platform unites all political parties, a collaboration none of us could have anticipated. However, for the sake of the well-being of our country, we have come together on this shared stage.

Postal voting has commenced today, and I am grateful to all who have cast their votes for me. There is encouraging news, as two years ago; few would have imagined that we could even hold this election.

Our ability to conduct this election is a testament to our collective efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy. When the economy was in collapse, my focus was on achieving a successful harvest. I engaged with the United States and the World Bank to secure fertilizers, which were distributed to farmers. Thanks to these efforts, the 2023 harvest was fruitful, leading to an increase in paddy production and resurgence in tourism. This progress has helped stabilize the country’s economy, and I extend my thanks to all the farmers for their contributions.

I want to assure you that I will provide the necessary funds to complete the North West Canal Project for the benefit of North West farmers. Farmers were the true saviours of the country during the economic crisis, not the 38 candidates who are contesting to the presidential election who claimed recovery was impossible. While they doubted the country’s recovery, we worked diligently to rebuild the economy. Now, our task is to advance this economic progress.

We are a nation burdened with debt and struggling financially. Over the past two years, we successfully negotiated with the IMF, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the 18 countries that provided us loans, securing important concessions. These nations now support us as we establish economic stability and regain our ability to repay debt. Without their support, we would face severe setbacks. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain this stability and continue moving forward.

When leaders fled, our team stepped up to save the country. Thus, I believe that the best team to lead the country forward is with us.

I urge all UNP members in Kurunagala to support me in this presidential election and continue to uphold our party’s legacy. Just as J.R. Jayewardene took charge in 1977 and built the nation’s economy, I seek your mandate to continue the progress we have made over the past two years.

Sajith Premadasa is no longer with the UNP and is unable to defeat Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who was, in fact, elevated by Sajith Premadasa himself. Historically, political competition in this country has typically been a contest between two main figures: the government and the opposition. It is crucial that each side maintains its distinctiveness and control over its own parties. For example, J.R. Jayewardene, when he was the leader of the opposition, ensured no one else could challenge his position, eventually becoming Prime Minister. Similarly, Former President Bandaranaike maintained control when she was leader of the opposition.

Sajith Premadasa’s approach has been to speak in Parliament daily, which inadvertently boosted Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s profile. Now, Anura Kumara poses a significant threat to Sajith Premadasa, who is unlikely to win. Every vote cast for Sajith effectively supports Anura Kumara. Therefore, I advise all UNP members not to vote for Sajith. Instead, on September 21st, cast your vote for the “Gas Cylinder” to ensure progress.

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