I offer concessions to empower the people – President

President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasised that his policy is not merely to alleviate poverty, but to increase people’s incomes and enrich their lives.

He contrasted this approach with the policies of Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, whom he criticised for maintaining a political strategy that keeps people in poverty to serve their own agendas. The President urged citizens to unite with him in the upcoming Presidential Election to bring about meaningful change.

Speaking at the ‘Ranil ta Puluwan’ (Ranil Can) rally in Medawachchiya on Tuesday (10), President Wickremesinghe addressed a large gathering of supporters who attended to back his campaign for re-election. He also outlined his vision for the next decade, stating that poor villages would be transformed into prosperous communities and that the historical prosperity of the Raja Rata would be restored.

The President further noted that his government has already initiated programmes to uplift farmers and highlighted that the upcoming election is not about political party victories, but about securing the future of the country. He called on all citizens to come together, putting aside party differences, to ensure national progress.

Addressing the public rally, President Wickremesinghe stated:

“None of us on this stage wanted to see the people of this country suffer, which is why we came together. We accepted the responsibility of keeping our citizens alive when no one else did. While Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake focused on making short-term promises, they abandoned the people when the country was facing severe shortages of fuel, fertiliser and medicine.

“We took on the responsibility when they left the people behind. Today, we have provided relief, and more will be given next year. To ensure the strength of our economy, we must transition to an export-driven model over the next five years, a plan we’ve included in the ‘Puluwan Sri Lanka’ programme.

“To empower the people, we’ve launched a programme granting free land rights. Alongside the agricultural modernisation initiative, we are working to increase crop yields and create stable sources of income for farmers. Over the next decade, we will transform impoverished villages into prosperous ones, especially in the Raja Rata region. Our goal is to restore the area’s historical fertility and wealth, starting with supporting farmers through loan concessions.

“I don’t offer concessions to eliminate poverty; I provide them to boost incomes and create wealth. We aim to make our people prosperous, a vision that neither Sajith nor Anura can claim. Additionally, we plan to establish large industrial zones in these areas, driving the creation of a new economy.

“I learned politics from J.R. Jayewardene, just as Sajith’s father, Ranasinghe Premadasa, did. These leaders taught us that if the people are hungry, we must feed them, and if they lack income, we must create opportunities for them. However, today, Sajith has strayed far from the policies of UNP leaders like Jayewardene and Premadasa. We, on the other hand, continue to uphold those values, and we are asking for the people’s mandate in this Presidential Election to carry forward that vision.

“President Jayewardene and President Ranasinghe Premadasa did not abandon the people in times of hardship. To continue their legacy and the policies of the United National Party, I call on all UNP members to support me, as I represent the party’s enduring principles dating back to D.S. Senanayake.

“Now is not the time for political rivalry. We must unite to end the people’s hunger. I urge everyone to think about the future of your families and stand together for change. On September 21, I ask you to make a decisive statement and vote for the ‘Gas Cylinder’.”

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