• Optimistic of UNP clinching both Presidential and Parliamentary Elections 
• Says UNP will establish a majority govt. and increase development tenfold 
• Calls on regional party members to go to people and tell them of work done 
• Says development achieved despite multiple challenges 
  
   

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said he was confident the United National Party (UNP) could win the upcoming Presidential Elections and fast-track development already done by the Government tenfold.

Speaking to party members from Matara, Hambantota, Kalutara and Nuwara Eliya at Temple Trees on Monday, Wickremesinghe was optimistic of UNP chances at the elections and insisted that much development had been implemented by the party since 2015 despite significant political and financial challenges. 

“In the past few years the Government launched many development programs. These were supported by you as regional politicians. Now you must go to the people and tell them of all the projects we have initiated and the steps we have taken to promote living standards. There is no government that has done more development projects than this Government but there is also no government that has not spoken about what they have done as this Government,” Wickremesinghe said.

He recalled that even though the UNP came to power in 2015, it did not have executive powers or a clear majority in Parliament. In such a situation the party faced many challenges to deliver on development pledges, he said, while navigating a challenging macroeconomic environment.

“Even though we faced many problems we were also able to initiate many development projects. Our plan is to establish a government with a clear majority and increase this development tenfold,” he added.

Wickremesinghe went on to say even though the Government was struggling to reduce budget deficits, it nonetheless increased public sector salaries, the number of Samurdhi recipients, and Budget allocations for education and healthcare, built roads and infrastructure, and also expanded the public sector. 

“We can win the upcoming election. We must all come together and establish a coalition to win the elections.” 

UNP General Secretary and Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam speaking at the event reiterated that the UNP would form a coalition before the end of this month, name a presidential candidate and move forward to develop the party.

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