Courtesy Hiru News

President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that even after three days, he has yet to receive a response to his inquiry about whether the economic policy of the Malimawa, led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake, promotes an import or export-driven economy. The President also criticized former Agriculture Minister Anura Kumara, accusing him of working towards destabilizing the country’s economy by ousting former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He emphasized that he will not allow anyone to undermine the hard-earned economic progress of the nation.

President Wickremesinghe made these remarks during the “Ranil ta Puluwan” (Ranil Can) victory rally held this afternoon (13) at Beruwala Beach Stadium. The rally, which drew a large crowd, was organized in support of his candidacy in the upcoming presidential election.

During the event, a proposal to provide pensions and social security benefits for pre-school teachers was also submitted to the President.

He further stressed that, just as he presents factual statistics, the Malimawa must also present a clear, data-backed explanation of its budget to the public. He urged citizens not to be misled, encouraging them to support the government’s ongoing efforts to rebuild the nation based on a genuine understanding of the country’s economic situation.

Addressing the public rally, President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated:

“When the people of this country were without food, medicine, fuel, and gas, I stepped in to meet those needs. When your workplaces were closed, I made sure they reopened. I restored hope when there seemed to be none. I never backed down, nor did I refuse to take responsibility for the people. Even when my own house was burned, I continued to work for the country. My genuine aim was to end the suffering of the people and to restore their hopes. I have successfully completed this program over the past two years.

Looking ahead, we will implement further measures to rebuild the economy and provide more relief to the public. By next year, the burden on people’s lives will be significantly reduced. Today, we made two important decisions. With the improvement in the country’s foreign exchange reserves, we have lifted the ban on vehicle imports. Starting next year, vehicles can once again be imported into Sri Lanka. Additionally, we raised the basic income tax threshold from 500,000 to 720,000 rupees, reducing the tax burden for many as their incomes rise. This will provide relief to everyone.

We have made real progress, and I will not allow this success to be undone. We have begun the journey to develop this country, and we must safeguard this program for the future.

Today, Malimawa is making promises to the public that cannot be fulfilled. Their proposed budget is one that will bring the country’s economy to its knees. They are attempting to destabilize the economy just as they did by ousting former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. If their economic policies are implemented, we will lose the support of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the dollar could rise to 500 rupees, further increasing the cost of living for the people.

If the proposals of Malimawa are implemented, I must say that the country will face an even worse situation than in May 2022. When I point this out, I am often accused of slandering them. This is not slander; it is a matter of the people’s survival. My goal is to bring the dollar exchange rate down to Rs. 275. If former Agriculture Minister Anura Kumara can do that, I have no objections. However, just as I present facts and figures, they too must present a plan to the public on how they will protect the rupee.

Recently, a group of young people came to meet with me, including some who said they supported the Malimawa. I asked them why they supported Malimawa, and they said, “Sir, we gave the UNP a chance, we gave Mahinda Rajapaksa a chance, and now we feel we should give Malimawa a chance too.”

I then asked them if they were willing to gamble their own future on giving Malimawa a chance. They replied, “No, Sir, we want a stable future.” I told them that giving Malimawa a chance would lead the country into an even deeper crisis than what we faced in May 2022. At that point, they admitted, “We hadn’t thought of it that way, Sir. If Malimawa gets a chance, we lose.”

I know that the people of this country are not willing to risk their future by giving Malimawa a chance that could lead to the collapse of the nation’s economy once again.

Are you prepared to make Anura president and pay an even higher price for the dollar? If so, you’ll find yourself in a situation more extreme than the Wessantara story. When I questioned Malima’s economic policy, Anura responded with an argument. I told him I was ready for a debate, but first, he must clarify whether his economic policy favours an import-driven economy or an export-driven one. I also asked him to resolve the differences between Sunil Handunnetti and Anura Kumara and get back to me. It’s been three days since I posed the question, and I still haven’t received an answer.

We shouldn’t waste time calling each other thieves; instead, we need to focus on meaningful discussions—like how to generate revenue and protect the economy. The future of the country cannot be entrusted to a group that lacks clear direction on such critical issues.

This country cannot be handed over to those who evade responsibility during an economic crisis and attempt to derail the economy. Therefore, I urge everyone to vote for the gas cylinder on September 21 and safeguard the program that will secure the future of our country.”