President says crises-fuelled economic war will be won similar to fight against terrorism

President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday vowed to win the economic war fuelled by the recent crisis similar to the successful fight against terrorism in the previous decade.

Addressing Tri Forces and Police officers and other rankers at the Air Force Base, Anuradhapura, as the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, President also said measures would be taken to establish economic independence in the country.

He emphasised the importance of doing the right thing, and mentioned that they presented the International Monetary Fund agreement to the Parliament to assess whether the Parliamentarians had the courage to make the right decisions for the betterment of the country.

The President referred to the International Monetary Fund agreement as an example and expressed his expectation for everyone's assistance in making the IMF program successful. He also stated that if the country adopts a fresh approach and embarks on a new journey, it can achieve significant development within the next 25 years.

The President acknowledged that the armed forces and police will continue to play a crucial role in achieving economic independence, and also assessed the actions of the armed forces and police in maintaining law and order during the previous year.

The President expressed gratitude towards the armed forces for fulfilling their responsibility, as without their efforts, Sri Lanka would have become an anarchic state.

Wickremesinghe said that during his presidency, no one will be allowed to breach the law and order of the country. He emphasised that he will prioritise doing what is right over doing what is popular, and that presenting popular ideas can lead to the destruction of the country.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe asserted that no one is entitled to engage in violent protests on the streets, but all political parties have the right to express their opinions or criticise him in a peaceful manner.