Sajith gives hope to the poor: Ranil

UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa was a hard worker who toured the country giving hope to the poor, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

The PM made this remark at the opening of the 'Green Valley' apartment complex for middle-income families in Ranala yesterday.

“Mr Premadsa is a hard worker who works 24 hours a day like his father. I thank Mr Premadasa for his efforts to provide housing for the needy. He has worked tirelessly to provide houses for the poor all over the country. He is a person who works 24 hours like his father. I also thank him for undertaking the task of constructing houses for middle-income groups. He goes around the country giving hope to the poor,” Mr Wickremesinghe said, commending Mr Premadasa who is Minister of Housing and Construction.

Referring to SLPP Presidential Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa's pledge to create an environment where everyone could live without fear, the PM asked if Mr Rajapaksa would apologise for certain incidents that took place during the previous regime.

“I heard Gotabaya Rajapaksa say he would create an environment where everyone could live without fear. But I like to ask him whether he would apologise for the killing of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, the killing of Havelock’s rugby captain Wasim Thajudeen and the attacks on journalists Upali Temnakoon and Keith Noyahr,” the Premier said.

He added that he would never believe that a future SLPP-led government would ever build a country where people could live without fear. “We are criticised by the media almost daily. In those days, those who criticised the rulers were whisked away in white vans. We don’t hear of such incidents today. Therefore people need to decide whether they want to enjoy the freedoms given to them by the current government or give them up” the PM said.

He also emphasised that the United National Front (UNF) presidential candidate would be someone with a backbone. He said this in response to a person who was heard shouting, “Field a candidate with a backbone". The PM said all the current UNP leaders had a solid backbone. (Yohan Perera)