If people with political experience are not elected to Parliament in the upcoming general election, the country might face instability, similar to the recent KDU University bus accident in Badulla, warned former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The former President made these remarks during a visit to watch the Hindi film *Three Idiots* at the Torrington Arcade in Colombo last Saturday. When responding to a question from a young attendee, he emphasized that he himself doesn’t need to return to Parliament. Instead, he suggested that experienced individuals, who could represent the people and advocate on key issues like the rising cost of essentials, should be chosen.
He credited this group of experienced leaders with helping him restore the country from near-collapse, a feat he believes few other nations have achieved.
**Conversation Excerpts:**
*Youth Question:* “Former President, do you still watch a movie on Friday?”
*Wickremesinghe:* “Now I can watch it any day, no problem.”
*Youth Question:* “Does that mean there’s more freedom now than before?”
*Wickremesinghe:* “Yes, there is more freedom now. Anyway, I watched movies back then, maybe once or twice.”
*Youth Question:* “Who is showing *Three Idiots* with so many other films available in Sri Lanka? And who do you think the ‘three idiots’ are?”
*Wickremesinghe:* “I don’t know who picked it. It’s just a funny movie. Now, who do you think the three idiots are? I don’t have one, that’s why I asked.”
When asked if he had a “crush” in the cinema:
*Wickremesinghe responded humorously,* “What’s a crush? In our time, we only had Orange Crush!”
Finally, when asked about returning to Parliament, Wickremesinghe shared his stance:
“If an MP is elected after this parliamentary election, I will resign and give it to them if they prove capable. I will ask that MP if they consider me an enemy. Going to Parliament isn’t suicide; I believe we need a new team formed by people with experience. These individuals, who have worked for three or four years, were essential in helping me turn things around in just two years. Sri Lanka may be the fastest country to emerge from bankruptcy, and if we don’t continue with experienced people, there’s a risk of losing this progress. We might face a situation similar to the KDU bus overturning.”
On whether inexperienced leaders will be elected after the 14th, Wickremesinghe added, “Some say inexperienced people will come, but I believe that’s like an unexpected guest.”
