President Ranil Wickremesinghe today, announced for the first time that he will contest the forthcoming Presidential Election as a common candidate. This revelation came during a rally held in Galle today.
During the event, President Wickremesinghe invited all political parties to join him, emphasizing the necessity of unity to address the widespread social and economic challenges facing the nation.
He further stated that This is the time to work together and confirmed that he has already deposited the bond to secure his candidacy.
I never ran away from challenges
“I was invited to take up the challenge as the Prime Minister in 2020. It was the first time in the country’s history that it had to beg for a Prime Minister,” he added, highlighting the unprecedented nature of his political journey.
President Wickremesinghe stressed that he has never shied away from challenges and has consistently succeeded in his political career. “I never ran away from any challenge. Each challenge presented to me was completed. I have proven it many times in history,” he asserted, underscoring his resilience and determination.
Reflecting on his decision to accept the Premiership, which led to his election as President by Parliament following the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Wickremesinghe expressed his deep concern for the public’s suffering during the economic crisis. He noted that the crisis had led to widespread unrest and ultimately, the resignation of Rajapaksa.
The President also called for unity among all parties, irrespective of their differing political views. He pointed out that many members of the current government had previously represented various political camps with opposing ideologies.
Moreover, President Wickremesinghe made a bold promise, stating that it would take only five years to lay the foundation to rebuild the country and develop it to the level of Singapore. According to him, achieving this level of development would take just ten years, reflecting his ambitious vision for Sri Lanka’s future.
