"Economy was already dead when we took over, but we did not give up" - RW

COLOMBO (News 1st):- Former Minister Mangala Samaraweera commenced his campaign to educate party supporters on the upcoming general election, in Matara today (February 29). The event took place under the auspices of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. Addressing the people, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said;

"Minister Mangala Samaraweera said back then that when we took over the government, the country's economy was in the ICU. However, I do not agree with that statement 100%. I do think the economy was in the ICU. But the economy was already dead inside the ICU. That was the real situation of the economy back then. But we as a government went forward and took the economy forward as well. We did not give up. We even absorbed talented and capable members of other political parties to our government. We all joined hands and went forward. This is how we hope to go forward."

In response, UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera says;

"When we were elected to power, our country was cornered by the international community. Back then Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed he was to be taken to the electric chair. It's true that we took a decision to co-sponsor the resolution back in 2015. But it was this very decision that saved Mahinda Rajapaksa from the electric chair. Mahinda Rajapaksa must worship Ranil Wickremesinghe for this. When former United States Secretary of State John Kerry visited Sri Lanka he met with Maithripala Sirisena. After meeting with him he secretly said, I think you have another Nelson Mandela. He even proposed to award a Nobel prize to him. At that time, I added that the Nobel prize should be awarded to two individuals. That is Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe. It was against such a backdrop he started to act unwisely."