President says SLPP was created to fulfil a need of this era

• In a video message to mark the 5th anniversary of the party, says Govt. is taking challenging decisions to build a local economy that will strengthen the people-centric economy for a prosperous country
• Stresses political practice of SLPP is a decisive factor in realising aspirations of people

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) was created to fulfil a need in this era, and that its ultimate goal was to accomplish the aspirations of the people.  

He made this remark in a video message released to mark the fifth anniversary ceremony of the SLPP, at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre.

President Rajapaksa said that the vision of the SLPP was clear and therefore the objectives are target oriented. The President also said that an indelible role was already being played in the present in order to build a united, sovereign and prosperous nation.

President Rajapaksa said that the then-Government, which had vowed to promote good governance, had not only deliberately undermined national security – a basic requirement of a country's existence – but had also opened the country to a massacre by creating an environment for extremist religious groups to be nurtured. President Rajapaksa said that national security, which was the main demand of the people of the country, had been established today and that the existing mistrust and despair had been eradicated.

President Rajapaksa also noted that the country was still experiencing the devastating effects of the Central Bank bond scam. He said that those who were responsible for this were also responsible for the increased cost of living and claimed that even economic experts had shown how development was put on hold and the manufacturing economy was ruined during that time.

“The SLPP was created with the blessings of the people when society was unjustly oppressed,” The President said, adding that, as a fresh political party, the SLPP had received massive public support, and that the national policy framework ‘Vistas of Prosperity’ for a people-centric economy was being achieved through the party's determination and commitment.

“Today, the country is open to fair and just criticism. The illicit drug menace as well as the underworld activities linked with it have been brought under control. The difficult decision to switch to organic farming with a focus on green agriculture has been taken for the benefit of future generations. Steps have been taken to enable the intellectuals to uplift the country by improving the public service, and a program to provide employment opportunities to 100,000 underprivileged youths has also been launched.

“The Government is taking challenging decisions for a local economic model that will strengthen the people-centric economy, with the ultimate hope of a prosperous country and the political practice of the Podujana Peramuna is a decisive factor in this.”