September 18, Colombo (LNW): Independent Presidential Candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe has called on Sri Lankan citizens to give him a mandate to further develop the country, emphasizing the dire state of the nation when he assumed office two years ago. Speaking to a large crowd in Mannar, Wickremesinghe recalled the severe shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and gas that plagued the country at the time.
“When I took over two years ago, there was no food, medicine, fuel, or gas. Neither Sajith [Premadasa] nor Anura [Dissanayake] stepped forward to address these crises. Where were they? What did they do when you were suffering?” Wickremesinghe asked, criticizing his main opponents for their absence during the critical period.
He emphasized his role in stabilizing the economy and restoring essential supplies, adding, “Today, gas, fuel, medicines, and fertilizer are available again. The economy has restarted. Now, those who avoided responsibility are demanding to take charge. They must be chased away with a broom.”
Acknowledging the hardships faced by the people due to tough decisions, Wickremesinghe praised their resilience and questioned the necessity of elections called by his opponents in the midst of ongoing challenges. He emphasized the improvements in the economy, including a stronger rupee and lower prices of goods, and appealed for a mandate to continue his work.
“We must continue to honour our agreements with the IMF,” Wickremesinghe stressed, countering claims by opposition leaders that breaking these agreements would help the country move forward. He urged the public to stay informed about the complexities of the current economic situation and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the nation through its recovery.
