We should modernise our country, not Westernise it – Namal
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Presidential Candidate Namal Rajapaksa stated that no matter how many economic experts come into power, no one can surpass the level of economic development achieved during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure.
He also said that his government has a programme in place to boost the country’s economy from its current range of Rs. 80 to 85 billion to Rs. 180 billion and that he aims to create 2 million job opportunities for the youth of Sri Lanka.
Speaking at a public rally in Chilaw, Arachchikattuwa on Tuesday (03), Rajapaksa emphasised that he will continue Mahinda Rajapaksa’s agricultural policy and has plans to provide benefits for the fishermen as well.
Rajapaksa further stressed, “We have always believed in supporting local entrepreneurs and business people while also attracting foreign investors. It is essential to strengthen cooperative and rural banks to provide low-interest capital to businesses and entrepreneurs.
“Over the next decade, we aim to create two million jobs in both local and foreign job markets. This will directly harness the strength of our youth for the country’s economy.
“Looking back over the past 20 to 30 years, some political policies have remained unchanged, often repeating the same rhetoric. Many policy statements echo the same ideas. These candidates often believe in Westernisation rather than modernisation. I believe that we should modernise our country, not Westernise it.
“Some candidates focus their election campaigns on eliminating queues, yet the passport queue continues to grow. Police officers work tirelessly from morning till night to manage these queues. Additionally, foreign tourists arriving in Sri Lanka face long queues at the airport. Some policies suggest increasing prices to reduce consumption if queues grow longer, raising concerns about the impact on the tourism industry.
We believe in protecting the dignity of state workers. State workers’ salaries should be increased in line with inflation, without waiting for an election. We are committed to safeguarding the dignity of the public service while implementing a technological transformation to end the era of queues through digitalisation. This is our responsibility, and our generation expects it.
“No economic growth in this country has matched that of the Mahinda Rajapaksa era. Our team aims to grow the economy from 80-85 billion to 185 billion in the next 10 years. This growth will create new jobs, put money in people’s hands, and lead to prosperity.
“Under the current government’s policy, there is a heavy reliance on imports. The previous administration faced strategically created issues with oil, leading to power outages. These energy problems arose because the Yahapalana government did not add even a single megawatt to the national grid. Consequently, the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government had to implement power cuts.”
Rajapaksa highlighted the government’s efforts to support farmers, including attempts to introduce organic fertilisers, and stressed the importance of cultivating sustainably and freeing the country’s agriculture from harmful chemicals.
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