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President Ranil Wickremesinghe urged the nation to support the on-going programme he has initiated for economic and political transformation. He called for a mandate to secure the future of all citizens on September 21.The President made this request after submitting his nomination papers at the Election Commission, Rajagiriya. Addressing the supporters gathered along the road, he highlighted his achievement in stabilising the country within two years, transforming it from a state where running the government and holding an election seemed impossible into a situation conducive to a Presidential Election.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena for his role in advancing the economy and maintaining law and order, which enabled the country to hold elections. He also thanked all those who supported the government, including Ministers, State Ministers, MPs, and members of the Armed Forces, Police, and Special Task Force.
Addressing the gathering, President Ranil Wickremesinghe further elaborated;”At this time, I would like to extend my gratitude to the cabinet led by the Prime Minister, as well as the Cabinet, State Ministers, MPs, and all those who have supported the government. When I assumed office in July 2022, the President’s House, the Presidential Secretariat, the Temple Trees and the Prime Minister’s Office were all occupied by force and my own home was set on fire. At that moment, many believed that running the government and holding an election would be impossible. However, I, along with the Speaker, ensured that Parliament was not seized. Subsequently, Parliament elected me as the President. On that critical day, the Army, Police, and STF together protected Parliament. Had they not done so, we might have faced a situation similar to Bangladesh.
“Today, we have advanced from a country engulfed in turmoil. Unfortunately, the opposition did not support efforts to prevent this destruction and instead fled, urging the government to step down. Now, they have the opportunity to run in the Presidential Election, but you must decide whether such a group is fit to lead the country and uphold its democracy.
In a country that once faced fuel shortages, there are now no such queues.Similarly, where there were once long lines for food and medicines, those queues have disappeared. People now have money and are living in a country that has been rebuilt to provide for its citizens. However, I acknowledge that not all problems have been fully resolved, and I regret that. Political leaders previously fled the scene, leaving the economic crisis unsolved. Today, we have addressed these issues and advanced the country. Even after declaring bankruptcy, we have provided relief to the people, which were not offered before the crisis. Through initiatives like the Aswesuma and Urumaya programmes, we have worked to support the public. Government employees received a salary increase of Rs.10,000 last January, with plans for an additional increase of Rs.10,0000 to 15,000 next January. We also aim to reduce the tax burden on the middle class and have restarted government hiring. Wages for plantation workers have been increased, and private sector salaries have risen. We must continue to advance our economy. This on-going programme will be sustained for another two to three years, with the goal of creating a new economy that enriches the people of this country,”he said.
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