News
President to intensify focus on national unity, youth aspirations
By Sanath Nanayakkare
Sri Lanka, while pursuing the macro-fiscal adjustment programme, under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility arrangement, should focus on two key national issues concurrently, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.
“If the country is to achieve economic growth and share the dividends of prosperity among all its people, we need to focus on two key policy pillars. Number one would be national unity that drives economic growth in a sustainable manner. Number two would be meeting the aspirations of our youth – the valuable human resource – crucial for promoting the development of the country,” he said.
The President said so via Zoom, addressing the UNP May Day rally at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.
“The UNP is a policy-driven political party. In our 2020 election manifesto, we asked for a mandate to go to the IMF and the World Bank to obtain USD 7 billion from these institutions. We were the only political party that asked for a people’s mandate for this. Other political parties gave various promises, that couldn’t be kept, while knowing the true status of the economy. As a result of stating the bitter truth, the UNP slid down to just one seat from the national list. In 2022, when the crisis was looming, I met with former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and advised him to get assistance from the IMF. Subsequently, when the former President summoned a conference of political leaders, represented in Parliament, the Tamil National Alliance and I participated in it, while other political parties boycotted it. My concern, at the time, was not doing politics but bringing some relief to the suffering masses. I accepted the presidency, at a time the country had completely collapsed. I did so on one conviction. That conviction was that I could rebound the economy with the support of the ministers who were also committed to accomplishing that common objective. Today there is political stability.
Food security has been ensured. Fuel and fertiliser shortages, and the electricity crisis, have been resolved. I convey my thanks to the ministers, political authorities and officials for their support, they extended, in getting this work done. However, we have to move beyond stability. We must become an advanced economy by 2048. India has that target set for 2047. China set it for 2049. We have set our sights on 2048. We should make policies and deploy strategies now to give that confidence to the young people that we are moving ahead, in line with that target. The UNP should take stewardship for the future.
Now as the Parliament has approved the IMF framework, I want to move beyond it. First, we must resolve our ethnic issues. Discussions are ongoing in this regard. I believe that all ethnicities would be able to come to a consensus, in this regard, by the end of this year, without making any betrayals. Thus we will be able to work together for the progress of the country. We must drive our economy towards a digital economy, and a green economy, for the aspirations of our youth to bear fruit. They want a transformation in our socio-economic environment. We must listen to it and create it. We will soon be giving prominence to the youth in parliamentary select committees and oversight committees. I request the support of all segments of the society to achieve these objectives,” the President said.
UNP General Secretary, Range Bandara, during his speech said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe didn’t physically attend the UNP forum because he didn’t want to play a political role and was keen on resolving the socio-economic issues at hand.
Public’s interest in the upcoming Provincial Council elections remains low, according to the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL).
PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi told The Island that there was an urgent need to encourage voter participation, noting that a higher voter turnout is essential for a functioning democracy.
Hettiarachchi said that the current level of political campaigning has been relatively subdued, with fewer aggressive or violent activities than seen in previous elections—a trend he described as a positive development.
He, however, stressed that local councils play a vital role in the lives of citizens, from birth- to death-related services, and also contribute to the legislative process. As such, voters must understand their importance and engage in the electoral process.
Despite the peaceful nature of the campaign so far, PAFFREL has received 20 complaints regarding the misuse of state resources and 15 complaints related to physical assaults. Hettiarachchi, however, added that no major incidents have been reported to date.
By Chaminda Silva
A group of 44 diplomats, including those from Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, the Netherlands, India, Myanmar, Palestine, France, New Zealand, Cuba, Egypt, Japan, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Canada and South Korea, headed to Kandy, by train, yesterday morning, to witness the sacred relic exposition.
The group travelled to Kandy in a special observation saloon of a train that departed from the Colombo Fort Railway Station around 7:00 am.
The ‘Sri Dalada Vandanawa’, a special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, commenced yesterday (18), and will continue till 27 April.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake, along with the ambassadors, high commissioners and other diplomats, participated in the inaugural event.
“This initiative aims to convey a message to Sri Lanka’s friendly nations that the country is recovering economically, overcoming previous challenges, and fostering national harmony. The event also seeks to strengthen international support for Sri Lanka,” the PMD said.
Yesterday (18), on the opening day, the public had the opportunity to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm From today (19) onwards, it will open for public veneration, daily from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm.
Police investigations have revealed that the shooting of a 27-year-old man in Ahungalla on Thursday night was a revenge attack. The motive is said to be his failure to carry out a contract killing assigned by a prominent underworld gang leader currently hiding in Dubai.
The 27-year-old victim, who was seriously injured in the attack, is currently receiving treatment at the Balapitiya Hospital. Investigations have further revealed that the attack was ordered by an underworld figure, known as “Abrew,” who is reportedly hiding in Dubai.
It has come to light that Abrew had given the young man a contract to kill a rival. However, since the contract was not carried out, the attack is believed to have been an act of retaliation.On the night of 17 April, around 9:48 pm, the young man received a phone call from an individual who instructed him to come and collect a packet of ice (a term commonly used to refer to crystal meth).
Accordingly, the 27-year-old arrived near the Revatha Primary School, in Balapitiya, Ahungalla in a three-wheeler. At that location, a hired gunman, who had arrived in another three-wheeler, fired three shots at him and fled the scene.
Despite being injured by one of the bullets hitting him, the young man managed to reach the Ahungalla Police Station in the same three-wheeler he had come in. Police officers then arranged for him to be admitted to Balapitiya Hospital for treatment.
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