– President Says in Dehiwala
“Ending the Battle for Living Costs by 2025”
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has pledged to address the burden of living costs for the people next year.
He emphasized that by further strengthening economic measures through effective management, he will be able to provide relief while maintaining economic stability.Although difficult decisions are necessary to recover a struggling economy, he assured that relief will ultimately be delivered.President Wickremesinghe made these remarks at the “Ranil ta Puluwan” victory rally
in Dehiwala yesterday (15).
The rally, held to affirm his anticipated victory in the upcoming presidential election, drew a large and enthusiastic crowd that warmly welcomed the President.In his speech, President Wickremesinghe also outlined his vision for a new economy, a renewed nation, and an updated political system. He asserted that his plan will deliver the new economy he envisions; stating that neither Sajith nor Anura could achieve this.
Addressing the gathering, President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated;
Thirty eight (38) candidates are running alongside me in the upcoming presidential election. However, two years ago, no one was willing to step forward to assume the roles of President or Prime Minister. At that time, I became Prime Minister simply because no one else was available to take on the position. As politicians, we have two
fundamental responsibilities: first, to maintain law and order in the country, and second, to ensure the well-being of our people. Unfortunately, no one was ready to accept these responsibilities back then; they simply had no interest.When the people of this country were struggling to access food, medicine, fuel, and gas, did those politicians not feel any regret? Did they not recognize their duty to address these urgent issues? Sajith and Anura, who failed to comprehend the suffering of the people at that time, are now seeking power. Today, after two years of effort,the country has achieved stability, and we have successfully strengthened the rupee.As a result, the prices of essential food items are beginning to decrease.
However, many households still face significant challenges, particularly in balancing income and expenditure. I am committed to resolving these issues. Our goal is to win this battle next year as we continue to strengthen the rupee and improve the economic situation.Recovering from similar crises has taken other countries a long time. I hoped that,rather than implementing the stringent measures those nations had to take, we could somehow protect everyone and stabilize the country in a different way. Today, we have made substantial progress.However, this stability is not guaranteed. If we fail to adhere to the program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), all our progress could be jeopardized. I am seeking a mandate to continue this program and to solidify the economic stability we have achieved. My goal is to provide a new economic framework for the country,something neither Sajith nor Anura can deliver. They are promising various forms of relief to the public and claiming to be negotiating with the IMF. Anura Kumara invited me to a debate, and I agreed to participate, but so far, no debate has been scheduled.
The IMF has recently issued a statement reviewing the policy statements from all parties involved. Mrs. Julie Kozak, Director of the IMF’s Communications Department,emphasized that “achieving the goals of the program is crucial for giving Sri Lanka a chance to overcome its most severe challenge in history. Continuing the reforms is
essential. The decision regarding the upcoming presidential election should be made by the people of Sri Lanka. The program in Sri Lanka has made significant progress.”From this perspective, it is vital to maintain the gains achieved through the program to fully recover from the country’s worst crisis. Therefore, the IMF has recommended continuing with the existing program as is. The IMF has not addressed the possibility of amending the current program, as suggested by Sajith or Anura.
“Malimawa” (NPP) had previously announced plans to launch a special program following discussions about our debt with the IMF. They suggested presenting an alternative debt sustainability analysis. However, as a middle-income country, we are unable to perform a debt consolidation analysis like low-income nations. Instead, we
must adhere to the Market Risk and Sovereign Debt Sustainability Framework designed for countries with a market approach.
Are these individuals proposing to hand over control of our country? Sometimes, we must make very difficult decisions in the short term to achieve relief in the long run—much like the process of undergoing medical treatment. Therefore, I am asking for your mandate to continue this essential work. I have already initiated a program to build a new economy, a new country, and a new political system. To see this through,an experienced team is required. I request your support to grant me that mandate.
Media Unit Ranil 24 – ‘Ranil ta Puluwan’
