Sajith and Anura call for change, but I seek people’s mandate for a revolutionary shift – President in Nuwara Eliya

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that his goal is to extend full benefits to plantation workers, including the implementation of a programme that grants them legal land rights. This initiative allows plantation workers to reside in villages rather than the traditional line rooms. He made these remarks during the “Ranil ta Puluwan” (Ranil Can) rally held last Sunday (15) afternoon in Nuwara Eliya, aimed at solidifying support for his upcoming Presidential campaign. The event saw a large turnout, with attendees enthusiastically welcoming the President.

During his address, President Wickremesinghe urged citizens to reject leaders who make false promises to gain power, warning that such leaders could jeopardise the country’s economic stability. He pledged that over the next five years, the Nation would undergo significant economic, political, and social transformations, with a structured approach to delivering relief to the public.

Commenting on Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the President argued that their calls for change were superficial, saying that if they truly cared about the people, they would have joined the effort to alleviate hardships, such as the long queues faced by citizens. He also criticised them for falsely promising to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reduce taxes, noting that neither had initiated any discussions with the IMF. The President emphasised the importance of continuing Sri Lanka’s agreements with the IMF to maintain economic stability.

Prior to attending the public rally, President Ranil Wickremesinghe met with students from Nuwara Eliya Gamini Central College at the President’s House in Nuwara Eliya. During the meeting, he handed over official documents to the school principal for the transfer of new land to the school, fulfilling a request made by the students.

In his address at the public rally, President Wickremesinghe further said:I first came to Nuwara Eliya in 1973. At that time, leaders like Gamini Dissanayake, J.R. Jayewardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa, and Lalith Athulathmudali, alongside myself, worked to reorganise the United National Party (UNP) and secure a victory in 1977. Today, I am the only one from that group who is still alive. This is why I am asking for the support of all members of the United National Party. There is only one UNP in Sri Lanka, and as its leader, I ask for your vote to continue leading it forward.

Soumyamoorthy Thondaman and I were sworn in as Ministers on the same day. Together, we improved plantation schools, trained teachers, and, in January 1994, I came to Nuwara Eliya to provide estate rights to the people here. Later, I had the opportunity to grant citizenship to the plantation workers. Working alongside Jeevan Thondaman, we also raised the wages of plantation workers, improved conditions for the elderly, and moved away from the old line-room system by creating villages and giving land rights to the people. My goal is to ensure that the estate workers enjoy the same privileges as everyone else.

I have not forgotten the Sinhalese people of Walapane either. Along with former Minister S.B. Dissanayake, we worked to uplift their communities, with S.B. continuing the efforts after I handed over some of the responsibilities to him.

I took over the leadership of this country at a time when no one else was willing to step up. When the people were struggling for food, medicine, fuel, and gas, it was our government that helped them survive. Meanwhile, Sajith and Anura did nothing to alleviate the suffering of the people; they only care about counting votes when elections come around. They lack the compassion to govern, and it is up to the people to decide if they want to support such leaders.

In the face of the economic crisis, I had to make tough decisions. However, as the economy strengthens, we have started to provide relief, and I am confident that we will be able to offer even more concessions next year.

When we made difficult decisions for the country, we were asked to step down. Then, they called for strikes, but never once did they step up to help the people. Today, we have resolved the economic crisis and established stability. However, this stability can be fragile, which is why we need to strengthen and secure the economy even further. I am asking for five more years to ensure that we build a future where the people of this country can move forward without fear.

We have already begun modernising agriculture, increasing tea yields to generate better income, and introducing modern farming techniques as we transition from line rooms to villages. We are also improving dairy industry management and working to enhance education. Just today, I handed over land to Gamini Vidyalaya to support its development, and we are also bringing new industries to this province.

Tourism is another key sector we are developing here. We are bringing major hotels to this region, particularly in areas like Seetha Eliya and Maskeliya. We are also planning to introduce a new golf course to attract more visitors, creating an environment where people can thrive through tourism.

Our vision for tourism development extends beyond Nuwara Eliya; we are also planning similar growth in Galle. We must keep moving forward. Meanwhile, Sajith Premadasa talks about giving everything for free and promises a long list of unrealistic pledges. He claims they will reduce taxes, while I have said clearly that we will engage with the IMF on these matters. Anura Kumara even challenged me to a debate, and I accepted, but I have yet to receive an invitation. Why hesitate? Sajith and Anura talk about negotiating with the IMF, but so far, no one has taken any steps toward that.

The IMF has reviewed the election manifestos of all the candidates, and in response, Julie Kozack, Director of the Communications Department of the IMF gave her views:

“On June 12, 2024, our Executive Board completed the 2024 Article IV Consultation and the Second Review of the EFF programme. That provided the country with access of about $336 million U.S. dollars. Programme performance remains strong. Reform efforts are bearing fruit. Economic growth is starting to revive. Inflation is coming down. Reserves, international reserves are increasing, and revenue mobilisation is improving. Nonetheless, important vulnerabilities do remain, and sustaining reform momentum is going to be essential.

Regarding some of the specific questions about the Presidential Elections, first, it’s very important to note, of course, that for the upcoming elections, this is really for the people of Sri Lanka to decide, right. Achieving the programme’s objectives is a key priority to give Sri Lanka a chance to emerge from one of its worst crises in history. As I’ve already noted, a lot of progress has been made, but the country is not out of the woods yet, and it is important to safeguard those hard won gains.”

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