Premadasa welcomes parties with common principles

 UNP presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa adressing the media conference yesterday. Former UNP secretary Tissa Attanayake (left) and former Minister Athauda Seneviratne also present - Pic by Sameera Wijesinghe

• Denies discussions with President revolved around elections  
• Says he will give up presidential pay and benefits, pledges to transform presidential residence into university
• Says he will not interfere with bond scam investigation when in power
• Pledges to soon release asset deceleration and manifesto 
• Says will follow UNP’s approved policy on constitutional change 
  
   

United National Party (UNP) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa claimed that his discussion with President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday was on current issues in the country and did not involve politics but he welcomed support from all stakeholders, including other political parties that had similar policies.  

Premadasa made the remarks at a press conference held yesterday where former minister Athauda Seneviratne from the LSSP and former UNP MP W.B. Ekanayake pledged their support to his candidacy. Flanked by those who had come to support him, Premadasa claimed that 45% of Sri Lanka’s population earned less than Rs. 900 per day and said the gap between the haves and the have-nots was growing. Premadasa pledged to work to reduce the gap if elected.  

Responding to a question, Premadasa said that he was open to accepting support from any legitimate party that upheld the Constitution and aligned with his pro-poverty alleviation and people-eccentric policies. 

“I have made an appeal to the country, that the doors are open to any political party with likeminded policies,” he said.  

Furthermore, he asserted that his meeting with the TNA and SLMC had not led to any conditions, pointing out that he was not prepared to work based on conditions. 

“There are only agreements on principles with other parties, not conditions,” he said 

The Land Minister went on to say that if elected, he would not take the presidential salary, benefits or reside at the presidential palace. He claimed that he intended to convert the presidential palace into a university for technology. However, he said he would elaborate on the topic later. 

Premadasa declared that he was not in favour of selling government assets or institutions but was open to entering into public-private partnerships on loss-making State institutions while ensuring that State ownership of such institutions was guaranteed.  

Responding to queries, Premadasa claimed that if elected, he would not interfere with law enforcement agencies or the Judiciary, which is investigating corruption, including the bond scam of 2015. 

“Politicians should not get involved in investigations or court cases, we have to let them [law enforcement] do their job,” he asserted.  

He also stated that his previously expressed views on the lack of a scientific survey to point to the public’s need for abolishing the executive presidency was in response to a specific question on public support for the change. 

However, he backtracked on this stance, claiming that the he would continue with the process of implementing resolutions passed at the UNP’s Working Committee which nominated him, included constitutional, electoral and presidential reforms.

The presidential hopeful also pledged to soon release his asset declaration and policy manifesto.