Economy has stabilised amid many challenges: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the current unity Government had been able to repay loans and stabilise the economy amid many challenges.

Addressing an election rally held in Nikaweratiya on 21 January in support of the United National Party (UNP) candidates for the Local Government election in the area, Wickremesinghe said the present regime took over a bankrupt economy without any future.

Expressing his views, Wickremesinghe said that since there had been no real development or income during the previous regime, the Government had to borrow excessively and its income was not enough to pay the debt by 2013. Therefore, the previous Government went for a failed election bid in 2015 with the intention of establishing its power before the economy collapsed.

“When we took over, Mahinda Rajapaksa thought the Government would not last more than a year and claimed he would take back the government. But three years passed since then,” he said, adding that the Government would continue until 2020. 

During these three years the Government had faced many challenges to rebuild the economy, he said, adding that the Government had been able to gradually rebuild the economy which was destroyed during the Rajapaksa regime.

The economy has been stabilised now and the Government is currently focusing on development, he said. “It has been possible to deliver a clean administration as we promised to the people,” he noted.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said a plan to develop the Wanni Hathpattu area would be formulated and implemented this year. He added that establishing vocational training centres and a drinking water project for the area between Galgamuwa and Yapahuwa would be part of this plan.

“We have already begun development of the northwest. An industrial zone has commenced in Bingiriya. Puttalam is rapidly developing into a tourism hub. It is my belief that those benefits will reach Nikaweratiya as well,” he said.

A large crowd attended the public rally held at the Nikaweratiya Police Training Ground to ensure the victory of the UNP candidates at the forthcoming Local Government election. Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and Parliamentarian Nalin Bandara also addressed the rally.