Sajith pledges to rebuild Sri Lanka if given power

• Asks people to hand over the country to the Samagi Jana Balawegaya
• Says his party has continued to serve the people while not in power unlike other Opposition parties
• Promises to foster relations with developed nations to rebuild Sri Lanka
• Slams rival JVP claiming it has not rendered any service to the people in Sri Lanka

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday pledged to revive and rebuild Sri Lanka if given power. Attending a social welfare event organised by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Premadasa asked the people to hand over the country to the SJB and the party will in turn rebuild it.

Premadasa said the ‘Sakwala’ program initiated by the party is one that is unfamiliar in a country where rulers only serve the people when in power and by using the people’s tax monies. “Serving the people while not in power is uncommon. This is a program beyond the traditional framework and is a commendable change for those seeking a change in the system,” he said.

Premadasa said his party has rendered a great service to the country’s health and education sector as no other Opposition party has previously. “The Government is not serving the country while claiming it is bankrupt. If the people hand this country to the current Opposition we will solve this economic crisis successfully as we have successfully implemented the ‘Husma’ and ‘Sakwala’ programs,” he added.

The Opposition Leader handed over the 52nd school bus under the Sakwala program yesterday to the Piliyandala Dharmaraja Maha Vidyalaya.

“The words no, can’t or let me see are not in my vocabulary. If I am given the challenge I will foster friendships with developed nations and create a strong and prosperous country,” he pledged. According to Premadasa, in 2022 certain schools had collected close to Rs. 2 million in transport costs from students and the provision of free buses by the Opposition will put an end to these excessive costs on students.

Taking a pot-shot at the rival Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Premadasa said parties using youth to collect funds into tills have not served the country in any manner. “Instead they have built their party office luxuriously. But the SJB office is still on rented premises. We do not use the party fund needlessly and instead spend it on productive programs,” the Opposition Leader claimed.