- The gas cylinder is the most powerful symbol at this moment
- Sajith is acting in a more dangerous sequel than Gotabaya
- The President is someone who increases salaries without being asked
Q: You say no leader can match Ranil Wickremesinghe in the Presidential race?
A: There is no candidate suitable for President Ranil Wickremesinghe at this Presidential election. This is not a search for a race, religion, or caste leader. We are looking for a leader for the country. Leadership is needed to protect the Sri Lankan identity.
As someone with many years of experience in Parliament and two years in the Presidency, no one is comparable to him. The Sri Lankan people must understand this. They must act with thoughtfulness. They must think of the future generations. Sri Lanka must be ensured to rise in the world.
Q: Are you saying that no candidate can continue the duties he has performed?
A: Clearly. Sri Lanka was in the ICU. What happens if the doctor is replaced while the patient is in the room? Then, the patient will become critical. Our country can suffer severe damage if the leadership changes.
Q: Even as the economy is recovering under the current President’s economic plan, he plans to increase salaries and provide allowances for a large number of public servants?
A: This is a very important question. These salary increases are being carried out based on information obtained from international groups supporting us. Even though the people did not ask for it, he is a leader who provides what people need because he understands people’s distress. He is adding 15,000 rupees to the accounts of 2.5 million economically distressed families.
In Sri Lanka’s Government mechanism, for the 20,000 people in the executive category, salaries have been increased by 25,000 rupees each. For the remaining 1.48 million, salary increases have not been made. If these people become weak, it will be impossible to meet the targets of the Economic Transformation Act. For about 6.5 million people working in the private sector, salary increases happen through ETF, EPF, and based efficiency. The most fortunate group is those who are self-employed, like masons and coconut pluckers, without any binding ties. If a self-employed worker comes to a house of a Government worker, they need more money to pay a daily wage to self employed workers.
So, this imbalance must be balanced. The group under the most pressure is the 1.5 million in the State mechanism. The President is someone who increases salaries without being asked. A special committee has been appointed to address the imbalances in the salaries of the State mechanism and to increase salaries by 25,000 rupees from January for those who are under the most pressure at this time.
Q: How did the Rajapaksas’ departure impact the election campaign?
A: I can’t say anything about this. They are the ones who handed over the country to Ranil Wickremesinghe. It was a time when no one else took over the country or shirked responsibilities.
Q: With the departure of the Rajapaksas, those who left the house are reuniting. Can we see progress in this situation going forward?
A:The presence or absence of the Rajapaksas is not seen as a significant factor. Even without the Rajapaksas, the Presidential election in 2015 was won by defeating the Rajapaksas. So far, 16 leaders from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya have joined us. More will come. This election campaign is being carried out with a full flood of people.
Q: Is there a preparation for more people from the SJB to join in the future?
A: Definitely, a large number of people from all levels are preparing to join us.
Q: for the current President’s victory, more people from the SLPP are rallying around him than from the UNP. What is the plan for the upcoming elections with those people?
A: That is wrong. For example, when Ranil Wickremesinghe took over as Prime Minister on May 12, 2022, he made a statement. ‘We are divided. I will solve this problem. I need everyone’s cooperation.’ All political parties in Parliament came to an agreement by giving 134 votes. That agreement is to work together under a national framework to rebuild Sri Lanka. We gained freedom that day because of unity. There is no obstacle for everyone to work together. History has shown examples of this.
Q: Do you think changing political sides has confused the people and party supporters?
A: This situation was created based on decisions made by the Chief Justice during Chandrika Kumaratunga’s tenure. These decisions should be changed, and they require amendments to the Constitution. Certain changes must be made in the future. As far as I remember, the Indian Constitution has been amended about 130 times, so necessary changes should happen.
Q: Various opinions arise regarding the symbol he chose. Why did you choose such a symbol?
A: There is a basis for this. More than the symbols of political parties, people remember the gas cylinder they searched for in their distress. It is the powerful symbol of this moment. The symbol in the hearts of the people. There have been instances when people carried this symbol and died on the streets. People in every village and city were greatly distressed. That symbol does not need to be marketed any further. The gas cylinder is in the hearts of the people.
Q: Recently, MP Thalatha made a statement that Sajith Premadasa split the United National Party and that running for the Presidential election together with the President is the only thing to do now
A: What she is saying is absolutely correct. At certain times, due to situations that arise, everyone’s thoughts are not the same, and some issues may arise. He made a silly statement as a Presidential candidate. He said the Presidency would be abolished. When the party was about to split, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe brought a sudden Cabinet paper to abolish the Presidency. He brought it to prevent this split. Do you remember how the opposition leader acted in the cabinet that day? The mockery of that day is regrettable. If it had been brought that day, there would be no Presidential election. There would only be a referendum. Anyway, now Thalatha Athukorala said something different based on that sequence of events. She said we split because, as long as Ranil Wickremesinghe is there, creating a President for the United National Party is impossible. Now, the leader of the United National Party is the 8th executive President. Now, there is no reason not to embrace the party.
Q: Recently, she said Sajith Premadasa is preparing to perform the second part of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s act.
A: He is performing a sequel that is more dangerous than the second act. The performance he is currently putting on will end with thousands of politicians going to the cemetery. We must free ourselves from that. The people must understand who that is. Laws and orders have been made for that. If everyone says, without understanding, ‘I am the President, I am the President,’ it will push the country to a dangerous place.
Q: The United National Party suffered a setback in the last election. Will there be any impact through this party conference to unify the supporters this time?
A: On September 6, the United National Party will celebrate its 78th anniversary. However, due to election duties, it will be celebrated on the 25th at the party headquarters, with the participation of tens of thousands, inviting political parties representing the Government and other parties. On that day, several proposals will be adopted regarding our party’s contribution to the future of Sri Lanka, and a proposal will be adopted to confirm Ranil Wickremesinghe’s victory.
Translated by Dinuli Francisco
