President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that the “Puluwan Sri Lanka” agreement, signed by 34 political parties and alliances, is not aimed at forming a new political party but rather uniting the nation to build a brighter future for the country and its people.
He noted that the signatories of this agreement are not those who avoided economic challenges but individuals who embraced them, believing in the potential to rebuild the nation.
President Wickremesinghe made these remarks during the signing ceremony of the “Puluwan Sri Lanka” agreement, held this morning (16th) at the Waters Edge Hotel in Battaramulla. The convention saw the joint signing of the agreement by 34 political parties in support of the President for the upcoming presidential election.
The ceremony was consecrated and blessed by the Maha Sangha with Seth Pirith, alongside religious rites performed by clergy from various faiths.
In his address, the President urged the people to vote in this presidential election with their own future in mind, rather than focusing on the future of politicians. He remarked that had the country’s economy collapsed, holding a presidential election today would not have been possible. He added that this year’s presidential election is being conducted to secure the country’s future.
President Wickremesinghe further elaborated:
“The ‘Puluwan Sri Lanka’ agreement was signed to demonstrate unity and a commitment to building the future of our country and its people, rather than merely forming a political party. This agreement was made by individuals who faced challenges head-on.
When the country’s economic and political systems collapsed, some political leaders abandoned their responsibilities. Leadership was forgotten, and they were afraid to confront the country’s problems. When I took over, there was no party standing behind me. However, the Prime Minister, ministers, and a group of parliament members joined me, believing that the country could be rebuilt. Thanks to this belief and determination, we are now able to hold a presidential election.
Had the economy collapsed, there would not have been an opportunity for this election. This is something everyone should remember. The purpose of this presidential election is to confirm the country’s progress. While other candidates are asking for votes, claiming to be the best person to lead the country, I ask all citizens to vote with their own future and the future of their children in mind. Let’s move forward together with Sri Lanka.
We inherited a bankrupt country—an era of queues for fuel, gas, food, and medicine. We had no money, with some days not even a million dollars available. We had to make tough decisions to lift the country out of bankruptcy, and these were not easy choices. Just as a parent or family member might make difficult decisions when caring for a sick child, we made these decisions for the sake of the country.
We extend our gratitude to the people who endured hardships during these challenging times. We took over a nation with a collapsed economy and have since managed to control inflation and increase foreign reserves. This progress was achieved in partnership with the people. While others called for the government to step down and claimed that the situation was unsolvable, even taking their grievances to Geneva, we focused on delivering results. We provided Samurdhi benefits to the people at three times the previous amount, despite the country’s significant financial difficulties.
We also provided 10 kilograms of rice for two months to low-income families and granted land rights through the Urumaya program. Housing rights were given to low-income individuals living in Colombo apartments, and the salaries of government employees were increased by Rs. 10,000, with another salary increase planned for next year. No previous government has undertaken such initiatives. Additionally, the wages of plantation workers were raised. The question now is whether to continue this program or abandon it halfway.
We engaged in negotiations with 18 countries and 21 institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank, to establish economic stability in this country. To continue along this path, we must adhere to the agreements in place. Any amendments would require renegotiating with these 21 countries and institutions, a process that took us two years to complete and would take another two years to revise.
However, we cannot afford to go another year without these concessions. We must decide whether to allow this system to collapse and risk losing the financial gains we have made. We also need to consider how to move forward, building a developed country and creating a better future for our youth. The future of our nation is at stake.
While some only think five to six years ahead, Gen Z looks 20 to 30 years into the future, and many are contemplating leaving the country due to concerns about their prospects. Our responsibility is to build this country for them, ensuring they have a future here. We have emerged as a new force, uniting when the country’s political parties were in disarray. It is essential to continue this program for another five years, during which a new leadership would have been born in this country, one that we haven’t seen in recent times. It is crucial to move forward with this team, aiming to build a stronger nation. Our goal is to develop Sri Lanka by fostering the growth of our villages and uniting the Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim communities.”
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena’s Remarks:
“When a nation is rebuilt from a state of collapse, its people will never forget the leader who spearheaded that transformation. President Ranil Wickremesinghe stands as the sole leader who accepted the responsibility of rebuilding the country’s economy during one of its most challenging periods.
With the support of 134 members of parliament, the President successfully led the government through this crisis. President Wickremesinghe has laid a strong foundation for the future by upholding the people’s right to a secure life.
When comparing the leaders running in this year’s presidential election, no one matches the current President’s parliamentary history, government experience, and international relationships. Therefore, we must acknowledge that all our political leaders are united in securing his victory, which will be a victory for the nation.”
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena was joined by several prominent political figures at the signing event, including representatives from the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, United National Party, and various other political parties and alliances.
