PM calls for unity within the government

By Yohan Perera   

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday called for unity within the government in order to create a bright future to the people.   

The Prime Minister made this call at a public rally in Kuliyapitiya after opening some development projects and launching a few others.   

“We did not manage to fulfil all aspirations of the people to the fullest during the last four years. However, we have given them freedom. I am being criticized in the media day and night but no one has been abducted in white vans during the last four years.   

You can’t turn the country around and go back to the past. We don’t shout but work with our mouths shut. We have prepared the country to face the future. Let’s get together and secure a bright future for the people,” the Prime Minister said.   

“We have overcome the challenges that came along with the Easter Sunday Bombings. Some thought that the tourism industry is over for good. However, it has picked up now and will be back to normal by November this year. We did not run away from challenges. The previous government ran away from challenges and held an early election. They could not borrow a cent.   

We have managed to stabilize the economy. I am not prepared to pass the debts of our generation to the future generations. We will pay the debts within the next five years. We will form a government which gives a future to the people,” he added.   

“I will not construct Bokkus (Culverts) I am not a bokku karaya. However, we will build up the nation. I don’t intend to get on to a stage and say I will save the nation as it is in danger. If we are patriotic we have to work hard and develop the nation. I am fully aware that the youth in Kurunegala needs a secure future.   

The country can be developed if we get together and put in a collective effort. You cannot develop the nation by shouting slogans and through provoking extremism. That kind of thing will only destroy the nation” he also said.   

Referring to the Kurunegala District he said the following. “I came here during the 2015 general elections and said that we will set up a medical faculty in Kuliyapitiya. Today, I have come here to open it and lay the foundation stone for the teaching hospital in the area. These are the challenges which we have accepted for the Kurunegala District.   

When I became the Prime Minister in November 2015 I had one expectation. That was to modernize the Kurunegala District. There was only a coconut plantation based economy in Kuliyapitiya since the colonial period. I am fully aware of Kurunegala District as my ancestors lived in the area. We always had plans to develop the district the way we developed Gampaha with the Free Trade Zones. Gampaha is now more active than Colombo.   

We want to make Kurunegala District a hub of activities. We decided that the Central Expressway will result in the development of Kurunegala District.  Second phase of the Kurunegala Highway has been completed now. The value of lands in Kurunegala will go up threefold once the expressway is completed. 

We have managed to stabilize the economy. I am not prepared to pass the debts of our generation to the future generations. We will pay the debts within the next five years