Exercise your right to vote: Ranil

 UNP Leader former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, at a rally in Galle during the final day of the campaign yesterday. Former MP Vajira Abeywardene is also present.
 Pic By Pradeep Pathirana   

• we understand the power your vote carries. You have to cast it
• A UNP government if elected, will resolve the economic crisis brought on by COVID-19

By Yohan Perera   

UNP Leader, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who wound up his party’s election campaign yesterday, urged people not to give up their right to elect representatives to the legislature but to exercise their franchise on August 5 without fail.   

Speaking during election rallies in Galle, Matugama and Colombo Central, Mr. Wickremesinghe said, people should exercise their democratic right to elect the legislature. 

 
“It is Parliament which has the power to select the new prime minister. It is the prime minister who has a power to choose the Cabinet. Therefore we understand the power your vote carries. You have to cast it. Don’t stay at home reasoning that all political parties should be got rid of, “Mr. Wickremesinghe said.   

“There are only two parties which are contesting the election with the objective of forming a government. That is, the SLPP and the UNP. There is one political party which is contesting with the objective of becoming the strong opposition. There is another party which has pledged to safeguard the people in the North. Another party goes around criticizing me and the UNP. The ruling party is asking for a two-thirds majority. One wonders whether COVID-19 would go away if a party obtain such a majority or whether the country will get enough funds to address the economic crisis” he added.   

“ A UNP government if elected, will resolve the economic crisis brought on by COVID-19. We will also control COVID-19 by increasing testing, “ he said.