Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed confidence in his victory in the upcoming election, emphasizing that the choice before the people was between his proven experience to advance the country and other candidates’ future ambitions.
“I do not influence the voting process; it is the people’s right to exercise their franchise. I am confident the majority (of the people) will come along. The key question for voters is whether they want a leader who can address the country’s challenges or those who avoid them. Ultimately, the decision rests with the voters,” Wickremesinghe said in response to a question by the Daily FT during a luncheon with editors at the Cinnamon Grand.
The Sri Lanka President President reiterated that the 21 September election was about the future of the country and its people, continuing on the path of stability, reforms, and development taken two years ago.
Commitment to the Country’s Future
Wickremesinghe stated that while other candidates might be running for personal ambitions and to secure their future, he is contesting the Presidential election for the future of the country and its people.
Economic Stability and IMF Agreements ( Sri Lanka )
President Wickremesinghe highlighted that altering agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or creditors could jeopardize the country’s financial support. He urged all candidates to be honest with voters about the nation’s economic challenges.
“I am serving as President today because no one else stepped in to take on this role. Within two years of assuming the Presidency, I addressed the country’s fundamental problems. Solving Sri Lanka’s issues is no small feat; it took Greece 10 years and Indonesia eight years. Some doubted how Sri Lanka could tackle these challenges,” the President recalled.
Path to Recovery (Sri Lanka)
“However, I believed they could be resolved in a shorter period. I discussed this matter with then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and accepted the challenge without fear. I was confident that by engaging with the IMF and making the hard decisions, we could recover. Initially, there was no party support for me. A faction of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) joined us, while another went to the opposition. Some from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) aligned with us, while others joined the opposition. I took on this responsibility by forming a Government without a party. We have now completed the initial work and have laid the foundation to free the country from bankruptcy. Let’s continue on this path.”
Economic Challenges and Stability
People suffered because the country’s economic system collapsed, and the increased tax burden became unbearable for some. The President acknowledged the hardships caused by these measures but emphasized their necessity for managing the economy. He stated, “Politics in our country is not prepared for the truth. Stability needs to be established. A country cannot be developed without stability.”
Future of the Nation
“We must decide whether to continue on our current path towards becoming a developed country, provide relief to those suffering, and build a promising future for our youth, or revert to old politics, risking another economic collapse and a return to an era of shortages and queues.”
Presidential Election Focus
The decision should be based on whether the candidates have the strength and policies to save the country. This Presidential election is not about the future of the candidates but the future of the country and its people. “We must decide whether to proceed systematically and solve the country’s problems with determination or risk returning to the situation of 2022
Commitment to IMF Agreements
“It is not possible to break any agreements made with the IMF and our lending countries. These existing targets and benchmarks are non-negotiable. If we violate them, we will not receive the necessary funds, leading to another economic collapse in our country.”
Realistic Promises and Economic Reality
“Different people can make various promises, but many of them are unrealistic. Fulfilling such promises would require increasing VAT. That is the reality we face. We must decide whether we are prepared to tell the truth and save the country or seek power through deception. Therefore, I ask the people for the mandate to continue the programs initiated by the Sri Lanka Government.”
Q&A Session Highlights:
SLPP and Namal Rajapaksa’s Nomination: Responding to a question about the withdrawal of Dhammika Perera and the nomination of Namal Rajapaksa by the SLPP, Wickremesinghe said, “I cannot predict the nature of the competition. My goal is not to engage in a fight but to present my policies to the people and demonstrate how we can advance the country. If you agree with my vision, you can vote for me.”
Vehicle Imports and Taxation: Addressing a query on vehicle imports, Wickremesinghe mentioned, “Next year, we will gradually allow vehicle imports because we need the customs duty to help generate revenue. We are waiting until our reserves are built up to a sufficient level, at which point we can permit vehicle imports.”
Qualifications and Plans for Development: On his qualifications and plans for the future, the President asserted, “I have put forward a plan to advance the country’s economy and build a strong foundation over the next five years. I have demonstrated my capability through action on two occasions.”
National Problem and North-East Development: Regarding the national problem and North-East development, Wickremesinghe stated, “In consultation with Tamil MPs, other parties, and especially the Cabinet, we have prepared a proposal that is acceptable to all. We will discuss and implement it soon.”
Future Development by 2048: On the development goals for 2048, he explained, “Many people doubt that, but consider this: a 40-year-old today will be 65 in 2048. Most of our population is under 40, so they will still be here. We need to aim for development. India plans to be developed by 2047 and China by 2049. We aim for 2048.”(Sri lanka)
Anti-Corruption Measures: Addressing concerns about allegations against his team, Wickremesinghe emphasized, “We have introduced anti-corruption measures like never before, including the Proceeds of Crime Act, which will be presented to the Cabinet next week.”
