MS wasn’t involved in 100-Day Program design: Rajitha

The controversy over the 100-Day Program used during the presidential campaign in 2015 has thickened, with Cabinet Co-Spokesperson Rajitha Senaratne yesterday claiming that the President was not involved in its design. 

Backing Maithripala Sirisena’s statement about his ignorance on the program which was used as the main policy document during his presidential campaign as the common candidate fielded by the then Opposition, Senaratne insisted that the document was drawn up by a collective of people including Rathana Thero, Asoka Abeygunawaradana and Minister Champika Ranawaka. 

“During the time the President was with the main campaign, we had just over a month to draw up a proper plan and carry out the campaign as well. It was a group of us who met every day to do the program; it had academics, members of civil society and other interest groups, but President was not a part of it,” Senaratne told reporters at the weekly Cabinet press briefing. 

The Minister also said that following his election, the implementation of the entire program was handed over to the Prime Minister, further establishing that the President had little to do with the program, despite using the same as his main campaign document. 

Two weeks ago Sirisena publicly criticised the 100-Day Program and claimed he had nothing to do with the matter and had no knowledge of who designed it. On Monday UNP Media Spokesperson Harin Fernando replied stating that the 100-Day Program was drawn up with contributions from many, including Sirisena.