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Last Updated : 2024-05-09 18:56:00
15 November 2023 08:20 am - 39 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
With a Presidential election scheduled for next year, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said he had still not made a decision if he would re contest the presidency as his focus presently was to terminate Sri Lanka from bankruptcy.
Responding to a question by the Daily Mirror at a meeting with the Editors at the Presidential Secretariat last evening, Wickremesinghe did not confirm nor deny his plans of a possible re-contest of the presidency but said he would wait and see.
"My primary focus right now is to terminate Sri Lanka from bankruptcy and then I will decide," the President said.
When questioned on the future of his political party, the United National Party, Wickremesinghe said that UNP MPs were defeated at the last General Election as they were the only lot that spoke for the truth about the economy.'
Therefore he said the UNP will look at re-grouping and making a comeback before the elections next year.
Explaining how the country planned to exit from bankruptcy, Wickremesinghe said the aim of the government was to limit expenditure, increase efficiency and live within means. He said this was the intention of the budget that was presented on Monday.
The President indicated that the budget was presented with a view of economic recovery and in line with the IMF expectations and the confidence in the country’s economic recovery was apparent with the recent investment made by the US International Development Finance Corporation and Adani Group of India in the Colombo Port West terminal. The President pointed out that such investments would not come if they did not have confidence in the country’s economy.
The President also said that the country should aim at being competitive in international trade as they intend to increase trade opportunities with the RCEP block, India, Bangladesh and the EU.
When asked as to how optimistic he was about the revenue target and projections of the government as there were no new tax proposals included in the Budget, President Wickremesinghe noted that tax collection had increased by 55 percent over the last year and that tax administration and collection would be made more efficient with the establishment of a Revenue Authority.
Lamka Wednesday, 15 November 2023 08:30 AM
What a shrewd politics is this ? He is asking people if they want him or not . He is crafty in politics. He knows that no one is out there to compete him in politics...he has an experience of over 40 years in politics No doubt he is better all others in politics but will people vote for him Arts of politics is not simple in our country.. You need to feed them first to get votes
Mahila Wednesday, 15 November 2023 12:21 PM
Lamka, "You need to feed them first to get votes ..." My take is One should feed them and provide shelter (Home) and some regular income by way of wages/employment (JANASAVIYA) - These are Past President Ranasinghe P's 3-point, election winning strategy in SL!!!??? Many others follow that path NOW!!!??? RW, being smart HAS STARTED-OFF with 50000 houses in greater Colombo, so he is ahead with One aspect! Shelter is accomplished and feeding done by India in 2022/23
Uncle Paradise Wednesday, 15 November 2023 08:31 AM
If you contest you will lose. Better to have someone elected, let the people chase him out, then come back through parliamentary coup. That's the only way.
Roisin Wednesday, 15 November 2023 11:49 AM
Namal will be the elected president within the next ten years. Because people will never learn. Look at the Philippines.
Ama Wednesday, 15 November 2023 08:47 AM
USA is spending BILLIONS DOLLARS ON WAR but they are delaying a very small amount of 330 million that is expected to come through 2nd tranche. IMF and USA are one and the same.
Steve Wednesday, 15 November 2023 08:59 AM
So you are planning to postpone elections until SL is terminated from bankruptcy.
Anura Hettiarachchi Wednesday, 15 November 2023 09:00 AM
re-contest??? when were you elected???
A confused citizen Wednesday, 15 November 2023 09:28 AM
You did not contest in a Presidential Election as other Presidents before you. You were elected by MPs in the parliament when the Government was in a crisis. You can do the same thing after a General Election.
Mohamed Adham Wednesday, 15 November 2023 09:55 AM
Recontest ??????? Did not know that he CONTESTED in the first place................. Alzheimer's ?????
Premalal Perera Wednesday, 15 November 2023 09:58 AM
Even if you decide to contest, it would be the people who will kick you out.
Suhada malli Wednesday, 15 November 2023 10:07 AM
People of this country elected Mr. Gothabaya Rajapakse with 6.9million votes. So does that mean our people are wise enough? A further 5.4million voted for Sajith Premadasa who chickened out during the crisis. This is the level of analatical skills our people have to select leaders if we have democratic elections.
Dan Wednesday, 15 November 2023 09:59 AM
"My primary focus right now is to terminate Sri Lanka from bankruptcy" "UNP MPs were defeated at the last General Election as they were the only lot that spoke for the truth about the economy." He always lived in a cloud cuckoo land. Even after becoming the President nothing has changed.
Waco Wednesday, 15 November 2023 10:07 AM
You are sure to lose your deposit.
ROSH Wednesday, 15 November 2023 10:08 AM
Unelected master debating president now wants to be elected master debating president. Excellent news. The masses love his activities in his double bedroom. We have been learning a lot of things of everything. He loves foreign leaders and mile high club, even emergency landing he was too busy in mile high club. We definitely need to build his statue in front of the parliament to see how much work been done over last 50 years without his trousers on
Citizens Wednesday, 15 November 2023 10:11 AM
If you contest or not the curse of people will befall on you soon.
ROSH Wednesday, 15 November 2023 10:16 AM
This unelected master debater thinks he can fool general public again. We need to be careful and elect young educated charismatic leaders of all corners of the country including minorities. Unemployed graduates of poor background please come forward to defeat family politics who bankrupt and ruined the country to the point of no future.
Man Wednesday, 15 November 2023 10:22 AM
As he is quite sure that he cannot win any election, he won't hold the election by using emergency laws and crazy Kamal, etc. Even the US ambassador will also help as she is blind and deaf to peaceful protests though she was against suppression, during Gota. That's why Gota had to leave and not as he was a democrat.
DOT Wednesday, 15 November 2023 10:38 AM
Teaser Campaign. Don't try to fool us. You will fire all the cylinders so as to become an elected President.
Ruwan Wednesday, 15 November 2023 11:36 AM
Did you ever contest before??
truthtom Wednesday, 15 November 2023 11:52 AM
The bitter truth is only he had the backbone to face the challenge when all the other talking puppets went hiding
Sam Silva Wednesday, 15 November 2023 06:44 PM
Very true.
Nimna Wednesday, 15 November 2023 12:04 PM
@Ama; USA is not IMF. Besides that why should they give international tax payers money to a highly corrupt country? Tell me how many of your corrupt people have been prosecuted? Don't blame others for your country's faults. The very reason SL can never be a developed country.
Nirmal Wednesday, 15 November 2023 12:06 PM
@Ama: If SL people are world beaters, better than USA, why is it bankrupt? Did USA ask money from SL. Mind you corrupt SL politicians and public servants have the money to fund whole Asia.
FairJudge Wednesday, 15 November 2023 12:13 PM
Until corruption is totally wiped out and wrong doers are brother justice and prosecuted so that all can see, SL will never get out of this mess. Everyone can see, even foreign tourists, how SL people spend money and their lavish lifestyles. Where is the money coming from. Are they paying a fare share in taxes. How many of them are tax payers? Lavish weddings, parties, high end restaurants, building mansions, luxury cars. Where is this money coming from? Complain about paying taxes? Where is Inland Revenue?
Mahila Wednesday, 15 November 2023 12:21 PM
Lamka, "You need to feed them first to get votes ..." My take is One should feed them and provide shelter (Home) and some regular income by way of wages/employment (JANASAVIYA) - These are Past President Ranasinghe P's 3-point, election winning strategy in SL!!!??? Many others follow that path NOW!!!??? RW, being smart HAS STARTED-OFF with 50000 houses in greater Colombo, so he is ahead with One aspect! Shelter is accomplished and feeding done by India in 2022/23
Ravi Wednesday, 15 November 2023 12:53 PM
You may make any decision, but the voters will ensure that you lose even your Deposit , if there is a Deposit for contesting Presidential Elections.
, බැංකු හොරා Wednesday, 15 November 2023 01:31 PM
How come peoplein Sri Lanka that how he appointed a foreigner as the governor of the Central Bank and robbed it with Bond Ravi. He will definitely contest and he will be supported by Mahinda, Sirisena, Chandrika , and many other corrupt politicians who bitterly opposed him few years ago. It's upto common poor man on the street to get rid of these corrupt hethikare for once and for all.
ARP Wednesday, 15 November 2023 01:33 PM
Sir, please contest. I like to see your results.
Ram Wednesday, 15 November 2023 01:48 PM
RW will not confess about contesting as he knows that he is losing. He will mark time and before the election is declared will disclose his decision. If he decides to have Parliamentary elations first his decision will depend on the results of that. With the SC decision what the Rajapaksas would do is also uncertain
Proud Boy Wednesday, 15 November 2023 01:52 PM
Ha ha ha ha!!! He is talking as if he won the presidency. Little does he realise that the people he once supported in the aragalaya gave him the presidency on a platter. He will have to meet those same people at the next election. We are waiting for him…..so that he can permanently retire after the next defeat.
Vivien Ganadewa Wednesday, 15 November 2023 03:34 PM
This is a PIN Chance given by your half brothers without any seat! You will never come through election unless follow the Satan JRJ tac-ticks!
Buddhist Wednesday, 15 November 2023 04:35 PM
"Nadagam King Ranil" must first decide on the date when he is going to conduct the Presidential election before deciding if he is going to contest or not. Enough drama Ranil!
Bernard Jayatilake Wednesday, 15 November 2023 04:58 PM
This is another gimmick and an IMF condition to become a cardboard hero in the hope of winning sympathy in time for election next year but he would be in a big surprise to find that none in this country want him to contest any election in the future.
roni Wednesday, 15 November 2023 05:56 PM
You are over age. Persons over 60 have to retire why are you an exception to laws and rules you set in motion.
Ismet Zaheed Wednesday, 15 November 2023 06:06 PM
Mr. Bean, when were you elected to consider "recontesting"?
Quolp Wednesday, 15 November 2023 10:54 PM
Hope, the US hegemony sidelined you from planning another PLOT against Rajapaksas.
A RW Supporter Thursday, 16 November 2023 02:10 AM
Either RW has decided not to contest or not to hold the Presidential election. If he wanted to contest and win, he would not have taken the side of corrupt SLC.
hoodwinker Thursday, 16 November 2023 02:52 AM
GROBR- Yes, please contest so that you can have an official send-off
Rolls Thursday, 16 November 2023 07:16 AM
Mr President you will not have a back door opening again and a democratic system should not entertain this at all and there is a use by date as well
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