Pictures by B. K. Kathriarachchi
Sri Lanka’s current recovery is due to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s political experience and his strategic international relationships, said Sagala Rathnayaka, Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor on National Security to the President in a recent gathering held in Homagama. He stated this during a special meeting organised by Ranga Abeysinghe, the Chief Organiser of the United National Party (UNP) in the Homagama electorate, to garner support for President Wickremesinghe in the upcoming Presidential Election. Chairman of the Homagama Development Commitee Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana also attended the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, Sagala Rathnayaka highlighted the importance of having a well-defined plan in addition to political experience and international relations to achieve recovery. He noted, “No matter how much political experience or international connections one has, without a plan, recovery is not possible. The President had a plan, and with public support, we were able to execute it effectively, allowing us to recover quickly.”
Rathnayaka recalled the challenging times when the country faced shortages of essential commodities like gas, fuel, and medicine. During a period when many leaders were hesitant, Ranil Wickremesinghe stepped forward, receiving bipartisan support from all members of parliament, which enabled him to lead the country out of a dire economic situation.
“We are preparing for an election that will decide the future of our country,” he continued. “Ranil Wickremesinghe is not just our party leader; he is emerging as a leader for all. Despite having only one Parliamentary seat, he managed to gain the confidence of a majority of Parliament members, which is why he now leads the country.”
Rathnayaka further expressed the importance of international cooperation, stating, “We aim to work with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the next three years. They will evaluate our adherence to the agreements every six months. Any delays in compliance will hinder our progress. If we don’t align with the IMF, by March, we will face economic stagnation again.”
He warned against renegotiating or cancelling agreements with the IMF, as doing so could have severe repercussions for the country’s economic stability, including a loss of trust from international bodies and a potential return to the economic crisis of 2022.
Rathnayaka concluded by emphasising the urgency of maintaining the current path and preventing the country from relapsing into economic hardship. He urged the public to be informed about the risks and to support President Wickremesinghe’s leadership to ensure a stable and prosperous future for Sri Lanka.
The meeting was attended by members of the UNP working committee, including former local councillors and key party figures such as Saman Rathnapriya, Director General of Trade Union Affairs for the President, who expressed their support for the President’s leadership and vision for the Nation.
“Some people say that they will renegotiate with the IMF on the agreement, and some others say that it would be cancelled. In such a scenario, this will only be a major setback to the country’s progress.
If we do not go according to the agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund, we will be stuck again by March. We will have to go back to the streets and people will have to go back to standing in long queues. In event we return to that period once again, it will not be easy to go back to them for help, because if we fall again no one is going to come forward to help us.
We must go through this journey successfully. The people of the village should be well-informed about this risk after explaining the facts. Our country will go into a crisis that’s beyond the situation in Bangladesh. We cannot go back to that situation. That is why we are urging people to ensure President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s victory”.
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