SLPP created to fulfill a need of this era – President
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday said that the SLPP was created to fulfill a need of this era and its ultimate goal is to accomplish the aspirations of the people.
The President made this remark in a video message on the occasion of the fifth anniversary ceremony of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) held at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, on Tuesday (2).
President Rajapaksa said that the vision of the SLPP is clear and therefore its objectives are target-oriented and already an indelible role is being played at present to build a united, sovereign, and prosperous nation.
President Rajapaksa recalled that the then government which had promised the people to promote good governance, had not only deliberately undermined national security, a basic requirement of a country’s existence, but had also opened the country to a massacre by creating an environment for extremist religious groups to grow.
“National security which was the main demand of the people of the country has been established today and the existing mistrust and despair has been eradicated,” the President said.
The country is still experiencing the devastating effects of the Central Bank bond scam. Those who are responsible for this scam are also responsible for the increased cost of living and even economic experts have shown how development was put on hold and the manufacturing economy was ruined at that time, President Rajapaksa said.
“The SLPP was created with the blessings of the people when society was unjustly oppressed.”
“As a fresh political party, the SLPP had received massive public support, and the ‘Vistas of Prosperity’ manifesto for a people-centric economy was achieved through the party’s determination and commitment.”
“Today, the country is open to fair and just criticism. The illicit drug menace as well as the underworld activities linked with it has been brought under control. The difficult decision to switch to organic farming with a focus on green agriculture has been taken for the benefit of the future generations,” President Rajapaksa said.
“Steps have been taken to enable the intellectuals to uplift the country by improving the public service and a programme to provide employment opportunities to 100,000 underprivileged youths had also been launched.”
President Rajapaksa said the Government is taking challenging decisions for a local economic model that will strengthen the people-centric economy with the ultimate hope of a prosperous country and that the political focus of the Podujana Peramuna is a decisive factor in this endeavour.