September 14, Colombo (LNW):President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the critical importance of preventing power vacuums in the government, warning that such situations could lead to national disasters. Speaking at the “Doctors for a Healthy Future” meeting at Waters Edge Hotel, Battaramulla, he underscored the need for smooth transitions of power, drawing comparisons to Bangladesh’s current crisis, where a failure to fill a power vacuum has caused instability. He recalled Sri Lanka’s own close call in 2022 when he intervened to prevent a similar situation after President and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned.
Addressing the doctors’ concerns, President Wickremesinghe expressed appreciation for their service during the nation’s challenging economic period. He affirmed his commitment to providing better salaries and benefits as the economy recovers, highlighting that both Sri Lanka’s economic and political systems have collapsed and require rebuilding. His “Puluwan – Sri Lanka” (Sri Lanka Can) program, he said, is focused on creating a new Sri Lanka by modernizing key sectors, including healthcare.
The President also discussed plans to introduce a comprehensive health services law that will encompass both public and private sectors, as well as modernize the century-old medical ordinance. In response to doctors’ concerns over salary disparities between the medical profession and the judiciary, he noted that reforms are being considered to address these issues.
Looking to the future, Wickremesinghe laid out his vision for an export-oriented economy, with the healthcare sector playing a key role by serving international patients. He also highlighted plans to modernize agriculture, alleviate rural poverty, and double tourism earnings as short-term strategies to boost the economy, with a long-term goal of achieving 7-8% GDP growth.
The President reiterated that maintaining stable power transitions is essential to Sri Lanka’s progress, stating, “Power must transition smoothly from one entity to another. If a vacuum is created, it leads to serious trouble.”
