Hope of generations will come true on 21 September – AKD

• NPP Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake says his campaign was carried forward by SL’s people 
• Credits determination and hard work of supporters for his success during the campaign 
• Says on-going political change is not a traditional one and will be victory for the common man 
• Assures his supporters, that they would never regret voting for NPP and pledges to uphold their trust 

Thousands of supporters gathered at the Ananda Samarakoon Outdoor Theatre in Nugegoda yesterday as National People’s Power (NPP) Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivered his final campaign speech before the 21 September election. Dissanayake urged the crowd to vote for real change, stressing that his campaign was built by the people, not by wealth, State power, or media propaganda.

“Politicians, even today, think they can win elections using money, State influence, and brute force, as they have in the past. They believed media manipulation can deliver victory. But we built our political campaign from the grassroots, with the people carrying it forward on their shoulders,” Dissanayake said. 

He credited the determination and hard work of his supporters for the success of his campaign, adding that this election belongs to the people, not the political elite.

Dissanayake emphasised that voters were more eager for political change than ever before, turning this election into a historic moment. 

“This is not the traditional kind of political change. It’s the victory of the common man. The people are no longer waiting for politicians to deliver change; they are taking the lead,” he said.

He assured his supporters that they would never regret voting for the NPP. “Voting for the NPP will never be a reason for embarrassment. Every day, you will be able to proudly say you voted for the compass, and we will honour that trust,” he pledged.

While Dissanayake acknowledged that frustration with the current Government initially motivated people to support the NPP, he said that hope for a better future has now become the driving force behind his campaign. “At first, anger and frustration led people to us, but today, they support us out of hope and a vision for the future,” he said.

Dissanayake also addressed disinformation spread by rival parties, including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), rejecting accusations that the NPP is anti-Buddhist or anti-Muslim. He warned that these false claims were intended to create division and racial tension.

Reflecting on the hardships faced by Sri Lankans under successive Governments, Dissanayake criticised the ruling elite for their neglect of the people. “Sri Lankans have suffered many consequences — deaths due to lack of medicine, youth forced to leave the country, and farmers losing crops due to the fertiliser crisis. These are the results of the crimes committed by our rulers,” he said. He promised to create a Government that would not leave anyone behind, with a focus on improving the lives of various groups including women, children, elders, and war widows.

Dissanayake also spoke of his confidence in victory, declaring that the long-standing struggles of the Sri Lankan people would finally come to an end. “The dream of generations will come true by winning on 21 September. This is a vote we will win,” he told the enthusiastic crowd.