Sajith pledges to be SL’s first “volunteer President” 

• Promises to not use public funds for his upkeep or accept salary if elected 
• Claims he will secure 2 m additional votes in comparison to his opponents 
• Accuses President Wickremesinghe of shrinking SL’s economy leaving people across SL struggling 
• Pledges to bring Rajapaksas and others who bankrupted SL to justice and recover stolen funds
• Accuses President Wickremesinghe and Opposition MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s NPP of enabling Rajapaksa family’s return to power
• Demonstrating strong support from North and East TNA MP Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran creates history at Sajith’s final rally

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa yesterday made a bold promise to become Sri Lanka’s first “volunteer President” during his final campaign rally in Maradana ahead of the 21 September 2024 election. 

Premadasa declared that, if elected, he would not use public funds for his upkeep while in office, and expressed confidence that he would secure at least two million more votes than his competitors.

Addressing a large crowd, Premadasa was joined on stage by prominent SJB figures including Mujibur Rahman, Hirunika Premachandra, and Kavinda Jayawardena, along with Tamil National Alliance MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam.

“With an additional two million votes, we will win this election decisively. Every truthful survey has revealed our victory is assured,” Premadasa told the crowd. 

He also emphasised the importance of respecting opposing views, maintaining peace, and fostering unity. “We must protect those with differing opinions, without violence or harassment. Unity, brotherhood, and friendliness will be our strength as we rebuild our motherland,” he said.

Premadasa criticised the current administration led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP), accusing them of enabling the Rajapaksa family’s return to power. He claimed that Wickremesinghe had worsened the economic situation, shrinking rather than expanding the economy, leaving people in all nine provinces struggling to make ends meet.

“Ranil shrunk the economy, and people are suffering without even four square meals. Some have lost their livelihoods, and there’s no one to represent them,” he said.

Premadasa pledged to combat corruption, alleging that the current Government thrives on bribes and commissions. He promised to bring to justice those responsible for bankrupting the country, particularly the Rajapaksas, and recover stolen public assets to aid in national development.

He explained his refusal to accept the prime ministership when offered in 2022, stating that doing so would have forced him to protect the Rajapaksas and their MPs.

Premadasa outlined his vision for a clean, people-friendly Government that would promote transparency by digitising all Government procurements. He assured the public that they would no longer need political connections to access State services.

“We will build a new, clean Government of the people. I am not tied to the Rajapaksas, and I will ensure the thieves who stole public monies are brought to justice,” he concluded.

A highlight of Premadasa’s final rally was the active participation of MP Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran as a special representative of Tamil people and TNA. It marked the first time a Tamil MP from North-East and a major political party speaking at a final rally of a Presidential candidate.