"I have the power of every family and every citizen of the country" : Sajith Premadasa

COLOMBO (News 1st):- The Presidential candidate of the New Democratic Front Sajith Premadasa attended a rally at Rattota public grounds, Matale this evening (October 19).  Sajith Premadasa received a warm welcome by the general public gathered at the rally. Addressing all those gathered Minister Sajith Premadasa said;

"Not only my opponent but his entire family is looking forward to coming back to the palace to rule the country. They only have the power of their family. Sajith Premadasa has the power of every family and every citizen in Sri Lanka. Remember it is only after I became the Minister of Samurdhi did the value of the Samurdhi concessionary stamp increase by 200%. I would like to state that Sajith Premadasa will provide the poor people of the country with Jana Saviya in addition to the Samurdhi. Sajith Premadasa at 52 years of age can give you that fresh start. This is my strong age. I will strenghten the people of this country by making the ultimate sacrifices. I will leave politics based in palaces and work with the small man in the country. I will strenghten the people of my motherland, and I will take the country towards development. I would like to state that I will operate all pre-schools in the country under the state and end the era where parents have to spend money on providing pre-school education to their children. I would also like to state that I will begin providing lunch to students starting from pre-school. The statements that I make are not empty words. They are not false statements. When I am making these statements you must remember that I hold the genes of former president Ranasinghe Premadasa. So, my beloved citizens of Sri Lanka, I will not loot state resources, I will not cut down trees, I will not take commission and I promise you that I will protect the people of the country. "

Sajith Premadasa also attended a rally organized in Laggala new town this morning. The rally was also attended by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Representatives of political parties who pledged their support to Sajith Premadasa as well as members of the civil society and party supporters attended the rally. Speaking to the people at this rally he said;

"I will make your everyday lives better after taking up the office of president. We will dedicate ourselves to provide solutions to all hardships faced by the people through a special presidential task force on national development that will operate through the presidential secretariat. We will work towards minimizing the human-elephant conflict. I would like to state that we will renovate all the tanks in the country through the "Wew Udawa program" and strengthen the farmers in the country. We will establish industrial zones in every sub-district and just like Ranasinghe Premadasa brought factories to the villages we too will end the unemployment issues of the youth. I would like to tell you we will definitely bring about the next development revolution with our victory on November 16th and initiate the program to develop the country through developing the village. I would like to state that I will be more humble than the dust beneath your feet and understand the sorrows of the general public and be dedicated to working to fulfill the aspirations of the general public of this country. We will create a youth charter. We will include the hope of the youth in that charter and within a month after our victory, we will formulate legal provisions in parliament to bring about a free and developed lifestyle for the youth of our country. We will also sign a charter for women. The women working overseas go through many hardships. I would like to tell you that with the victory on the 16th we will meet with the leaders of those nations and sign bilateral agreements and we will not only represent the right of these women to work in a safe environment we will implement a special program to ensure the safety of these women."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also speaking at this event said;

"What does Gotabaya Rajapksa say? He is going to make a new country. How is he going to make this new country? They had 10 years to create a new country. Who governed the country back then? Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Rajapksa, Basil Rajapaksa and Namal Rajapaksa. If they win who will govern this country? Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa, and Namal Rajapaksa. The Rajapaksas are still the same. He developed Madamulana but he did not develop Abanganga korale. A cricket stadium was built in Sooriyawewa, there are wild elephants there. They built a massive convention center in Hambanthota, but there is no one there. I have only one question to ask: Why didn't you reduce the prices of goods during your rule? A liter of diesel was Rs. 118, today the price is Rs. 104. A liter of petrol was sold at Rs 162, today it is sold at Rs 137. A household gas cylinder was sold at Rs. 2650, today it is priced at Rs. 1500. They couldn't provide subsidies during their rule. What did they do in the end, they shot and killed Anthony who protested in Chilaw demanding for the prices of goods to be reduced. They shot Roshen Chanaka, they shot the residents of Rathupassawela and killed them. You only have to make one decision on November 16th."