8 January polls was not just about Maithri but also Ranil

Monday, 23 February 2015 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says the United National Party (UNP) sough the support of the public at the presidential elections last month to make him Prime Minister and not just to make Maithripala Sirisena President.

He said that public support was also sought for the 100-day program during which immediate relief was to be offered to the people. Accordingly, the Prime Minister said that the new Government was able to offer relief to the public within a short period of time. “We did that in a few days but the former Government could not do it even in five years after the war,” he said. Wickremesinghe noted that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had said that fuel prices could not be reduced but the new Government reduced fuel prices as part of the immediate relief offered to the people. He said that Parliament support was needed to implement the 100-day program and once that was over elections would be held to elect a new Parliament. (Colombo Gazette)