PM calls on public to join UNP in march for development

A rejuvenated United National Party (UNP) will take Sri Lanka towards development said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday calling for more members to join the endeavour. Launching the UNP’s latest program to recruit three million new members Wickremesinghe recapped the party’s past triumphs and called for fresh victories. In addition to traditional print forms for membership, the UNP also launched an app for younger members to download to become members. The ceremony, which was held to coincide with the birthday of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa, will be followed by events in all cities countrywide and electorates.

“We are committed to creating one million jobs. We must take development to the villages; we have to create a culture where youth are tech-savvy, educated and able to earn a good income. Sri Lanka must be connected with the rest of the world and have the capacity to be competitive on a global scale,” Wickremesinghe told the gathering. 

Infrastructure development projects that have only been limited to paper will be enlivened and implemented at the earliest possible opportunity while tourism will also be advanced, he added. 

“We must strengthen democracy. We want to make it mandatory for every child to have 13 years of education. The Port City project that was limited to a part of Colombo shall be converted to a major financial hub in the middle of the Indian Ocean,” he said. 

 The Hambantota ship yard will be completed by the end of August or September, Wickremesinghe said while the company involved has promised to provide Sri Lanka with a report of the plans within a short period of time for the Hambantota Harbour and an industrial zone. 

“We are also intending to sign an economic trade agreement with the government of Japan. President Maithripala Sirisena participated at the G7 summit in Japan. With the aid of the Japanese government we plan to introduce an LRT train service to solve the problem of traffic congestion in Colombo. They have also agreed to provide aid for a flyover system for Rajagiriya.”

A flyover from Peliyagoda to the Harbour will be constructed with the aid provided by the ADB. Under a Government plan Welikada Prison will be shifted to the Kalutara district to free up space of about 30-40 acres to build a trading city in Welikada. The initial program will be initiated by the Megapolis Minister Champika Ranawaka as trade discussions on an FTA with Singapore are expected to kick off during Wickremesinghe’s visit there, next month.