SL needs a 21st century leader: SLPP

• Believes national security and national identity key to development
• Says 15 to 20 mainstream politicians to SLPP on 11 August 

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday said the country needs a leader who has the potential to work and think in line with needs and challenges of the 21st century to develop the country.

MP Lakshman  Yapa Abeywardena

Speaking to media at the SLPP head office, Parliamentarian Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said a leader with a focus simply to develop basic infrastructure will not be sufficient to resolve prevailing economic challenges.

Abeywardena said all the leaders that won elections in the recent past around the world had given prominence to preserve national security and the identity of the country, and to develop the economy.

“The United National Party (UNP), during its five years of administration, has destroyed national security and our national identity. People believed wide-ranging development would take place in the country and national security would be assured, but the UNP failed to fulfil those aspects,” Abeywardena said.

He charged the UNP was not capable of attracting foreign investment and improving the technology-based businesses needed to increase economic growth in the future. According to Abeywardena, the UNP was unable to revive the economy that was destroyed by their policies, which were not suitable for the country.

Abeywardena noted new policies are needed to revive the economy, and only SLPP could deliver them. Therefore the SLPP Presidential candidate is the only option to guide the country down the correct path.

He said 15 to 20 mainstream politicians will join the SLPP at the party’s convention, to be held on 11 August, where the SLPP’s Presidential candidate will be announced. Abeywardena noted all progressive forces will join the SLPP to defeat UNP policies, which have oppressed the public during the last four-and-a-half years. “We hope Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members will also join us on 11 August and we invite those who are against the policies of the Government to join us, to defeat the UNP and select a new leader for a brighter future,” he said.