President Ranil Wickramasinghe said yesterday (06) that he is ready to work together regardless of party and opposition differences whether Chandrika Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa or any other group in the task of developing the country.
President Ranil Wickramasinghe said this while joining the ceremony held at the Kalutara Public Stadium to mark the 27th anniversary of the political career of Podujana Peramuna MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena.
President Ranil Wickramasinghe who said that those who said good things when he was working together with Chandrika Kumaratunga would blame them when they were working together with Mahinda Rajapaksa, said that the Podujana Peramuna ruling party team had given good support to build the country from the abyss it fell into.
The President said that he has also given the same advice to the United National Party and emphasized that they should work together to overcome the challenge of building a future for the youth.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, founder of Podujana Peramuna, Basil Rajapaksa, National Organizer of Podujana Peramuna, Namal Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament, entrepreneur Dhammika Perera, and a large number of Podujana Peramuna MPs participated in this event held at the Kalutara Railway Station Stadium.
Rohitha Bhashana book by Mr. Rohitha Abeygunawardena was also launched here.
President Ranil Wickramasinghe who spoke there also said:
These twenty-seven years of Rohita’s bitter life. The future could be even more bitter. He has successfully faced all these.
A number of tough decisions could have been made. Supporting me two years ago must have been such a tough decision. Thank you for your support since then.
In 2002, I got to know MP Rohitha. I was the Prime Minister at that time. Rohita was a real headache for us that day. He gets up and shouts at once. But I saw him as a rising person. Whether he was in the government or in the opposition, he acted like that. He always showed that personal strength. He is a valuable person that a party needs. There is a mind as well as a body. Such people are needed to lead a party.
This morning I was at the United National Party’s Galle meeting. I will tell a piece of advice I gave there in this meeting. The world is changing. Think anew. Don’t get stuck in old politics. From there we can proceed.
I have seen Rohitha’s work from the opposition as well as from the ruling party. This crowd has come for that. He never forgot the people of the province.
The media asked if he was going to Mr. Rohitha’s event. I said I was going there. The media asked me what I have to say about Mahinda Rajapaksa. I said, ‘This is not his 27th year, but Rohitha’s 27th year.’
I am always asked what I am doing sitting together with Mahinda Rajapaksa. I will answer that. Mahinda and I were on different sides. We didn’t get together. Always been against. There is no need to retell the battle. Why am I here now? I had more of a fight with Mrs. Chandrika. No one asks questions when you are with Mrs. Chandrika.
After the 2020 election, we had the opportunity to talk about the situation in this country during the time of Corona. I also spoke with the Managing Director of the Financial Fund, Christina Georgieva, during the Christmas season of 2021. She gave me a message to give to then president Gotabaya.
I delivered the message. I asked him to go to the financial fund. Mahinda agreed to that.
I wanted to rebuild the country. I also did not want the value of money to decrease.
We were talking. It’s not a secret. We talked about how we can move the country away from politics. When President Gotabhaya called the leaders of the political parties, only I and the Tamil party went there.
Parliament was held in the week before May 9th. A part left the government and went to the opposition.
Some said that if Gotabhaya’s government falls, the post of prime minister should be handed over to the opposition leader first. They also asked me about it. I also informed them that it is the tradition.
But the opposition leader did not accept that responsibility. He had a duty to accept this responsibility.
We speak democracy. Shouldn’t he be reading Ivo Jennings? He has clearly mentioned that the responsibilities should hand over to the opposition leader during the resignation of the Prime Minister. In this regard, I would like to inform you to find and read the books ‘Cabinet Govt’ and ‘Parliament’ written by Jennings.
The leader of the opposition did not do his duty to the country. My friend Anura was also not to be found. For two days, people were looking for the position of prime minister. In which country did such a thing happen?. You cannot run a government without a prime minister. The president should take advice from the prime minister.
I did not ask for the Prime Ministership. They asked for my support. Accordingly, I agreed to support. Even if Sajith takes over the country at that time, I will help him. I don’t mind it.
Mahinda and I have now completed many chapters in politics. When a country is in trouble, the main parties should work together. We have been quarreled; Has been scolded. But we came together when the country was in trouble.
Since 1931, Sri Lanka is the only country in South Asia that has peacefully transferred power to the other party when one party was defeated without demolishing democracy. Please show me one other country that has peacefully transferred power.
It is true that we have our shortcomings.
Such a thing has happened only in Sri Lanka. No matter how many fights we had during the day, we will be together in the evening.
Our houses were set on fire. After that, many people asked me to come forward as acting president. I asked Sajith about that. I was informed that Sajith would contest the parliamentary elections and if necessary, asked me to come as the Prime Minister. I thought how can I become his prime minister. I can’t run like Sajith. I thought it would be better if I became the president. Anura also said that he would contest the election.
When GL was asked, he said that he was not ready to talk. Then I talked to Mahinda. Then promised to support. Is it wrong? Part of the party also voted for me. It’s not a secret.
The majority of Pohottuwa supported the government. I am thankful for that. That is why I am sitting with Mahinda.
Blame me for that. If god Sakra was in Parliament, I would ask him. But god Sakra was not in the parliament. Mahinda Rajapaksa was there. Sajith was there. Anura was there. If Gajendra Kumar had supported, he would have taken that too. Because I knew that the economy could be fixed. We have now build the economy.
Eight billion dollars have been saved. Now we have to move forward.
What will happen today if I say no to Pohottuwa’s support? Not only fuel but also coconut oil will be lost. Then the dollar goes to four hundred and fifty. You have to take help from someone and do the work. This is not the time to see party differences.
Now we have to move on from there. I did not understand these ministers. Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s chosen people were there. But the people of Pohottu took over the work and ran. They took it further than I thought. I can’t do it alone without the support of Pothutwa’s cabinet.
They are asking me why I am sitting here. I will not join Pohottuwa. These parties should be formed anew now. The party system was broken in the period of 2021, 2022, 2023. I cannot do this alone without the support of the cabinet.
And we should work together at any time. At other times it can be separated. Otherwise, we would have betrayed our country.
I will not join Pohottuwa and Pohottuwa will not join the United National Party.
I have been able to go to the meeting of the United National Party as well as Pohottuwa on the same day. Last night I was with SJB people. If I wanted, I could have gone to the meeting they went to. There is no one there to chase me.
Let us work together this season. We are faced with a big challenge. Ultimately, we are not the ones who have to overcome that challenge. It should be the young generation.
We must give the youth a future. President Ranil Wickramasinghe also said that we should dedicate ourselves to that and do politics. So thank you Rohitha.
