President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who went to New York to participate in the United Nations General Assembly session, returned to the country last Sunday morning.
When a President usually returns to the country after a foreign trip, a group of Ministers flock to the Bandaranaike International Airport, but such people did not come to accompany the current President.
After a long visit to the two countries of Cuba and America, from the moment the President arrived, he started to engage in his daily duties again as usual. After taking some rest, he came to his office in the afternoon to meet officials of the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance before meeting the officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The officials of the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank had held discussions with the officials of the IMF on several occasions. The proposals they presented there were put before the President by the officials.
“Sir, these people are asking to increase taxes further. The argument presented by these people is that the Government’s income is insufficient,” the officials said. “We cannot burden the people anymore and they are loaded to the maximum. There are various reasons for the decrease in Government revenue. Let’s explain it to them. No matter what is done, taxes cannot be increased anymore.” That was the position of the President.
After that, President Wickremesinghe tirelessly joined another journey. It was to participate in the launch of a book titled “The Right Eye” authored by Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara. Although the President is usually punctual, there was a slight delay on this day because he had a lot of work to do. The President, who came to participate in the event at a leading hotel in Colombo, was received by Minister Nanayakkara’s family members.
At that time several Ministers including Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena had arrived at the venue. Manusha as a former journalist had invited the President to the event. The President, Prime Minister and Manusha’s family members were seated in the same place.
The President approached Manusha and asked how he found the time to write a book. “I wrote small parts whenever I got a break. Later, I collected them and made a book,” Manusha replied.
“I was also sent the manuscript of this book, but could not read it due to too much work. But I read the summary. You have done a good job.” This was how the President encouraged Manusha.
Then the President explained to Manusha how international labour laws have been updated. The President also appreciated Manusha’s efforts as Labour Minister to introduce international labour laws to Sri Lanka.
When Saddha Mangala Suriyabandara, who delivered the keynote address at the ceremony came down after finishing it, Manusha called him to where they were. “Sir, this is an old friend of ours,” Manusha said pointing at Saddha.
“Yes, yes, I know,” the President said appreciating his speech.
The President remained until the end of the ceremony and Tiran Alles and Wajira Abeywardena were also sitting at the table where the President was seated. Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mahinda Amaraweera, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Jagath Pushpakumara and Prof. Ashu Marasinghe were also present.
The next morning, the President went to Hanwella to attend a ceremony to distribute school equipment to a group of children. It was organised by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
The President also did not fail to pay special attention to King Seethawaka Rajasinghe at the ceremony at Hanwella Rajasinghe Central College. Following the ceremony, the President came straight to his office in Colombo Fort.
The Cabinet meeting was held that evening, and the Appropriation Bill for the 2024 Government expenditure estimate was discussed. The dates of the presentation of the Budget were also submitted.
Appropriation Bill
President Wickremesinghe also presented the progress of the negotiations of the IMF to the Cabinet. Following the Cabinet meeting, a group of Ministers and officials met the President at his office. They asked him about participating in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session and being able to meet the world’s powerful leaders.
“The President’s analysis of China at the Ocean Summit in Cuba was appreciated by almost all the state leaders. The Foreign Secretary said that countries such as Australia appreciated this,” Ruwan Wijewardene said looking at the group.
“China is the strongest country in the world. Our biggest creditor is also China. We cannot abandon China.” Everyone nodded when Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said.
“In three speeches, the President spoke about the economic issues affecting the emerging countries. On the other hand, the country could gain recognition due to the President’s speech that he is only loyal to Sri Lanka,” MP Premanath C. Dolawatta said.
“There was also a good response to the comment made by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh that they didn’t think that we will pay the debt so soon. The world community is surprised that we are standing up so soon after being a collapsed country,” MP Wajira Abeywardena said.
“The President of Socialist Cuba is brought to Sri Lanka by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is said to be a capitalist leader. But the socialist leaders of Sri Lanka go to capitalist countries. The people need to understand this difference,” Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said, making everyone smile.
When MP Madhura Withanage asked if the President of Iran would also come to Sri Lanka to launch the Uma Oya project, the President nodded.
President Wickremesinghe said that it is his intention to take the country towards development as soon as possible.
The President received many invitations from world leaders to visit those countries. The President took steps to participate only in a selected few and to send representatives to others.
Social media
Then the question that arose was about the Bill that Public Security Minister Tiran Alles is expected to bring to protect the people who transact online. It was said there that the opinion that the Government is attempting to crack down on social media is wrong.
President Wickremesinghe said that he outlined his position to the President of Global Affairs for ‘Meta’.
The President had told him that anyone can go to the Supreme Court regarding the Bill. He had told the President of the Meta Company that the Government is bound to make the changes ordered by the Court.
The President said the same before the Ministers as well. But, the President also said that there should be a law against the harassment of women and children through social media. That evening, the President again met the officials of the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank to discuss the meeting with the officials of the IMF to be held the following day.
President Wickremesinghe met the security chiefs on Tuesday morning to discuss the security situation in the country. Later, the President came to Colombo Hilton Hotel to address the Commercial Arbitration Conference. The President also spoke about changing the name of the Port City and said that the Board of Investment will be changed to the Economic Commission.
That evening, the President discussed with the IMF and they continued to talk about the decrease in Government revenue. Even though the President offered solutions, the IMF’s intention was to increase income taxes. The negotiations ended without an agreement due to the disapproval of the Government.
Berlin Global Dialogue
However, President Wickremesinghe told officials that after his return to Sri Lanka from his Berlin visit, he will send a team led by State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe to the IMF head office in Washington to discuss the matter further.
President Wickremesinghe left for Berlin, Germany that night to join the Berlin Global Dialogue. This was held from September 28 to 29.
There, the President spoke about the geopolitical situation and the restructuring of the country’s debt. It was also planned to discuss with a group of Ministers including the German Chancellor.
The President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka, who had participated in a security conference in the US, was also present to participate in this meeting.
The President also took steps to appoint five Acting Ministers before his visit to Berlin.
According to the powers of the President, the scroll memorandums for declaring five temples and two devalayas as sacred places were presented by President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake. A bhikkhu interrupted the Secretary’s speech about Sri Lanka being known as the only country with Theravada Buddhism.
Hearing this, Chief Incumbent of Meegammana Rajamaha Vihara, Ven. Maningamuwe Wimalajothi Thera called Secretary Saman Ekanayake to a separate place along with some other bhikkhus who were present. “Secretary, I know that you said this from feeling. The pure Theravada Buddhist philosophy is found in Sri Lanka,” the Thera said for all to hear.
“I will tell you another story. President Wickremesinghe came to the Asgiri Mahavihara when he was the Leader of the Opposition. There, the monks questioned J.R. Jayewardene’s open economy. He gave a good answer. He said that when the two traders called Tapassu and Bhallika were going to trade, the cart got stuck in the mud.
“At that time the Buddha helped them. Because of this, the two merchants offered honey to the Buddha. Then they asked for the sacred relics of Buddha’s hair and created the Shwedagon Pagoda in Burma. The rest of it was brought to Ceylon and the Thiriyaya Chaithya was built.
“The fact that these people were given visas to come to trade means that even then there was an open economy. The President as the then Opposition Leader said that President J.R. Jayewardene only changed it a little. So, I don’t think there has ever been a President who knew Buddhist philosophy correctly,” the Thera said, holding the President’s Secretary’s hand.
Monday, September 25 was a special day for Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena because he was involved in doing work for the children of his village, Boralugoda, Seethawaka.
It was to start the Seethawaka Sisu Arunalu program to distribute school equipment and uniforms to 12,000 primary students. The opening ceremony was held at Hanwella Rajasinghe Central College. There were many guests including Ministers, the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, the President and the Prime Minister.
At the ceremony, the Chinese Ambassador recalled a fact.
He said, “Philip and Kusuma Gunawardena, who took the lead for the left-wing movement to advance China-Sri Lanka relations from the past, laid a very strong foundation for the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association in the 1940s.”
“All this school equipment and uniforms were provided by the Chinese Government through Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in honour of the historical friendship between national hero Philip Gunawardena and Kusuma Gunawardena, who founded the Parliamentary Friendship Association between People’s Republic of China and Sri Lanka,” the Ambassador said.
“Seethawaka Rajasingha’s life should be re-analysed.” Many people paid attention to what President Wickremesinghe said there.
Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association
The 73rd anniversary celebration of the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at Temple Trees on September 21, which was also attended by the Chinese Ambassador.
The Chinese Ambassador said, “Ms. Kusuma Gunawardena should also be grateful for bringing present Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to the world, who is always friendly to China.”
He said the other children of the Philip-Kusuma couple, namely Prasanna, Geethanjana, Lakmali and grandson Yadamini were also present at the ceremony.
Premier Gunawardena expressed his gratitude to the Chinese Ambassador for China’s donation of school equipment for the children of Seethawaka. On Tuesday, September 26 and Wednesday, September 27, the Premier spent his time in the Seethawaka area of Avissawella to distribute the donations received from China to the schoolchildren.
Later on Tuesday, Prime Minister Gunawardena went to Horagolla to join the Bandaranaike commemoration at the invitation of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. Those who were there saw a short conversation between Chandrika and Dinesh as well as former President Maithripala Sirisena and Dinesh.
Chandrika’s father, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, as well as Dinesh’s father, Philip Gunawardena had taken the lead in forming the Government in 1956. Philip Gunawardena went to China to establish Sino-Lanka friendship in the background of the preparation of the ‘56 Government.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ajith Rajapaksa and a group of Government and Opposition Parliamentarians had received an invitation from the Egyptian Embassy in Sri Lanka.
The invitation was sent by the Egyptian Ambassador to Sri Lanka to discuss matters for the immediate setting up of the Sri Lanka-Egypt Parliamentary Friendship Association. It was brought to the attention of Deputy Speaker Rajapaksa and the Ambassador that many programs can be carried out for the development of economic, political, tourism and other social issues between the two countries after the Parliamentary Friendship Association is set up.
New alliance
According to sources, in the past week alone, over 20 representatives of various political parties, academic organisations and trade unions had come to the Rajagiriya party office and held discussions with MP Nimal Lanza and its leaders about the formation of a new alliance.
