University professors held a press conference yesterday in support of the National People’s Power (NPP) presidential candidate, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, ahead of the upcoming presidential election. Their statements are as follows:
“Under a NPP system, children can pursue education as far as they wish, according to their preferences.”
— Dr. Dileepa Witharana, Open University of Sri Lanka
“Sri Lankan society stands on the brink of a historic transformation. The country is at a point where politics, the economy, culture, the rule of law, and society have hit rock bottom. We have united around the National People’s Power with a new hope to bring an end to an era of deception. Through this election, we aim to cleanse a society that has decayed in various ways, as well as take the first step toward realizing the hope of a developed Sri Lanka. There is a significant uprising in the country for NPP. For instance, the majority of university professors have already decided to work for NPP, from policy formation to canvassing, on a scale never before seen in history. When we went canvassing as university professors recently, the response we received clearly showed that people are ready for a critical transformation. Colombo city, which was previously regarded as a stronghold of the green party, is now fractured. Specifically, the Muslim community has shown unprecedented support for NPP.”
“In short, the transformation that will take place through NPP’s victory will usher in a renaissance era, transforming the entire society. Following this election, there will be a shift toward a system where the general public takes control in fields such as healthcare, education, transportation, cultural life, and sustainable development. After independence, the control of the nation has remained with a few elite groups, but now power will transfer to the common people. Since education plays a critical role in this renaissance, let me briefly outline our vision for education. The funds allocated for education have been systematically cut over the years. This isn’t just in monetary terms; parents have had to bear the full burden of their children’s education, including time and labor. This is especially evident in the school system.”
“However, under NPP governance, we have committed to allocate a significant amount of funds for education in the very first year. This will eliminate the inequalities not only in schools but also in universities. Our primary goal is to ensure that every child has access to a fully equipped school within three kilometers of their home, and from grade 10, we will introduce vocational training. This is essential for a productive economy and social functioning. All students will have the opportunity to advance in their education according to their preferences. I have highlighted the educational renaissance that will be brought about under NPP governance. Similar transformations will take place in other sectors as well.”
“Anura Kumara is the only option that represents the aspirations of the people.”
— Prof. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri, University of Colombo
As we approach this presidential election, it is crucial to understand the significance of standing and working for the National People’s Power. Although there are 38 candidates, only three candidates appear to be at the forefront: Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sajith Premadasa, and Ranil Wickremesinghe. Among these, Ranil Wickremesinghe is prominent because he is the current president. Despite the presence of three candidates, the campaign is clearly divided into two sides: NPP and the forces opposed to it. This division is evident in mainstream media, debates, and social media. The anti-NPP forces include not only Ranil’s camp, Sajith’s camp, Namal’s camp, and Dilith’s camp but also the Janatha Aragalaya (People’s Struggle) movement led by Nuwan Bopage. All their campaigns are focused on opposing NPP. It’s clear that this presidential race is primarily between NPP and the rest. It’s not because of any bias, but the reality is that the leading force in this election campaign is Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He is the only one closely competing with Sajith Premadasa.”
“Looking at Sajith’s camp, they attempt to present themselves as representing the aspirations of the people at the lower end of society. However, if you want to understand the difference between Sajith’s camp and NPP, you should compare Harsha de Silva with NPP. Harsha de Silva, Sajith’s main economic thinker, follows a policy line aligned with Ranil Wickremesinghe. Fundamentally, there’s no difference between them. Harsha has repeatedly stated that if NPP comes to power, the IMF project will be completely dismantled. He claims that the IMF approach is represented by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), and Ranil’s camp asserts the same. Thus, the economic thinking of NPP and Harsha de Silva are fundamentally different, but there is no clear competition between Sajith and Anura.”
“Ranil Wickremesinghe clearly represents the continuation of the autocratic system that has governed Sri Lanka for decades, and even though Sajith tries to present himself as an alternative, his camp is ultimately part of that same system. Those who represented the most corrupt politics in recent years have split between Ranil and Sajith.”
“In this context, a significant portion of the people who supported the 2022 Aragalaya (People’s Struggle) are demanding a system change. The system change they seek is primarily the end of corruption and a break from the corrupt politics that have prevailed. The political force chosen to represent this system change is none other than NPP. If we are to represent the people’s aspirations, we must stand in support of Anura Kumara Dissanayake and NPP. This represents the broad people’s movement under NPP, and I am a representative and active participant in that movement.”
“We, as the university community, bear a significant responsibility in rebuilding the economy.”
— Prof. Kithsiri Dissanayake, University of Moratuwa
Let me briefly explain our economic situation. Our economy is valued at around 84 billion USD per year. The Central Bank reports may show variations in these numbers. Generally, we import about 20 billion USD and export about 12 billion USD, leaving a trade deficit of about 8 billion USD. This deficit is primarily covered by remittances from migrant workers. The earnings from our other exports are not enough to bridge this gap. The University of Moratuwa offers degree programs in about 12 fields of engineering, and we should pay more attention to the contribution these fields can make to strengthening our economy. Around 25% of our import costs are spent on fossil fuel imports. About 60% of our electricity is generated using imported oil and coal, with an annual consumption of around 16,000 gigawatt hours. About 60% of this is generated from coal and oil, costing around 7.5 billion USD annually. There are ways to reduce these costs. By harnessing wind and solar energy, we can generate a significant portion of our electricity. Even ordinary people can contribute to renewable energy production. Under Anura Kumara’s new government, there will be a special focus on promoting renewable energy production with government incentives.”
“In addition, there are vast mineral resources within the country that remain untapped. We haven’t yet fully utilized our ocean resources. By developing resources such as Pulmoddai mineral sands and the Paranthan Chemical Corporation, we could add about 10% to our economy. The NPP’s policy framework outlines these possibilities. There is a clear opportunity for significant economic growth in the future. In the past, I have worked with various institutions under previous governments. Although I presented these opportunities to two former presidents, no action was taken. As the university community, we bear a great responsibility to rebuild the economy. As the University of Moratuwa, we are ready to fully commit our support and active contribution to Anura Kumara’s government.”
“Anura has shown resilience, even when support dropped to 3%.”
— Senior Lecturer Priyantha Fernando, University of Kelaniya
At this moment, we are preparing to elect a leader to govern the country politically. It is essential to evaluate the qualities, skills, and abilities, including leadership, strategic management, and integrity, of the candidates running for office. Many of us here have studied in universities for years, earned our degrees, and then traveled to various countries to further our knowledge and share it with others. We hold the expectation of transforming this country into a nation of educated and informed people. Despite advancing in our respective fields, our political leaders have failed to uplift the nation. That is why we, too, have had to intervene actively in this political process.”
“When we assess the way the presidential candidates have spoken and acted over time, it is crucial to evaluate whether they have the capability to make the dreams of the entire population a reality. Looking at Ranil Wickremesinghe’s statements, it seems to me that he is still living in the past. Before the 1977 era of ration queues, President J.R. Jayewardene promised to provide eight pounds of rice, and then he became executive president. Ranil Wickremesinghe has been in parliament for 47 years since then. Today, he is not promising to rebuild the country but instead to end ration queues and provide gas and oil. If that is the case, he is not a leader.”
“Two other candidates have entered the race by inheriting their father’s legacy. They have not demonstrated their own abilities, and there are even questions about their education. They claim to carry forward what their fathers built. In this backdrop, we are discussing the leadership of Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the NPP. Born in a remote village, having faced hardships, he earned his place at the University of Kelaniya, led the university’s student union
, and later became the leader of the JVP’s student wing. Eventually, he rose to the leadership of the JVP, demonstrating a high level of ability and skill. Despite the party’s vote share dropping to 3% in a previous election, Anura has shown resilience and has demonstrated how to move forward with determination.”
“By organizing a broad-based force, the NPP has garnered massive public support. It began by forming the National Academic Organization, which later expanded to various sectors in Sri Lanka, even bringing together thousands of Sri Lankans abroad. The NPP has built organizations like ‘Adithana,’ the retired armed forces collective, and ‘Gahanu Ekamithata,’ a women’s collective. In this way, they have established sectoral organizations and brought them into the political process. Finally, they unveiled the policy declaration ‘A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life,’ demonstrating a collective approach to rebuilding the country. We invite the people to join us in this collective effort to rebuild the country based on this policy framework.”
“Children who dream of the future fall victim to a competitive education system, losing their dreams during exams.”
— Senior Lecturer Sakura Bogoda, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
We are preparing to move forward into a new renaissance era following the upcoming presidential election, after ending the dark period that has existed since independence. Although education is the lifeblood of a country, successive governments have continuously cut funding for it. Around 8% of students who pass school exams and enter universities find that the courses available to them do not align with either global needs or the needs of our country. As a result, they have had to protest as unemployed graduates. Universities are not only places of education but also institutions that contribute to the economy. However, the leaders have paid no attention to this. Research and development have also not been prioritized within universities. Although the country’s needs have not been addressed, the NPP has committed to researching national requirements, managing resources, and ensuring the sustainability of those resources through universities.”
“Children who dream of the future fall victim to a highly competitive education system, losing their dreams during the Ordinary Level and Advanced Level exams. If education is meant to create a workforce according to the needs of the country, there has been no clear vision or action taken in that regard. The existing school and university education systems have not provided space for practical training either. Today, the world demands a balance between theoretical and practical knowledge in education. The NPP will introduce a landmark change by ensuring that, by the age of nine, students will be guided toward higher education based on their skills and abilities. Even for students who focus on practical fields, they will have the choice to either enter a university or join the workforce after completing their Advanced Levels. At this point in Sri Lankan history, we are witnessing an unprecedented brain drain. Seventy years after independence, we are facing this challenge, and we must build a future for our children to recover from this abyss. That is why we, as university professors, are united in placing our trust in the NPP.”
Responding to questions raised by the media:
How can we trust the NPP even if university professors are speaking in support of it?
The NPP has a history. Trust can be built by studying how they have acted within that history. You can also study the policy declaration presented by the NPP. Both the people and we are presenting this policy declaration to bring about a monumental transformation in society. The way Anura Kumara Dissanayake has acted is also significant in this regard. In comparison with the corrupt politics of today, we believe there is no political movement other than the NPP.
The economy has collapsed, but you lived through it. How do you now claim to rebuild the country?
Even as the country collapsed, the people and we had no other place to live but this country. A political transformation does not come from outsiders but is an internal process. We have all experienced and understood this and have engaged in discussions and actions over time. For a long time, there has been a deep conversation about the need for a profound political transformation in this country, along with various attempts and approaches.”
“However, in recent years, the country has reached a critical juncture. There was a voluntary people’s uprising in 2022. A president, elected with immense power, was forced to step down. Additionally, the main political strongholds have crumbled. The dominance of the major political parties has been rejected by the people. These are all observable trends that we can all sense. The idea of a new political transformation is emerging not just from NPP or a group of university professors but from society itself. According to proper surveys, it is clear that although many have not yet revealed whom they will vote for, there is a strong sense of rejection and dissatisfaction with the current system. Even former presidents who do not support the NPP have stated that when casting their votes, they will consider the thoughts that emerged during the 2022 people’s uprising. This shows the fundamental need for change in the existing system. We must be able to interpret this signal from society, which is the main idea we are putting forward.”
“Although files have been shown and evidence of fraud and corruption has been revealed, no one has yet been brought before the courts or punished. So how can we believe what is being said now?”
Trust is not a religious act here but a matter of a democratic election. In a democracy, if the policy framework presented is not followed, the people have the opportunity to make another decision. What we all accept is that there is democratic governance in this country. It is through elections that decisions are made in a democratic system. A policy declaration, while not a legal document, represents a social contract between the candidates and the people. Candidates seeking to represent the people are bound to implement the fundamental aspects of the policy declaration. If they fail to fulfill that commitment, the people will either remove them in the next election or, as seen in 2022, through a people’s uprising. This is a fundamental characteristic of a democratic system.”
“This issue arises because the two ruling cliques that have governed the country for seventy years have brought it to this state. To understand this, we need to revisit the slogans that emerged from the 2022 people’s uprising. The entire population rose up, carrying slogans that identified both parties as responsible for the destruction and demanded their accountability. Furthermore, these parties are now offering deceptive promises to win votes. In contrast, the NPP offers a policy framework that can be implemented.”
Participants:
Dr. Dileepa Witharana — Open University of Sri Lanka
Prof. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri — University of Colombo
Prof. Kithsiri Dissanayake — University of Moratuwa
Senior Lecturer Janaha Selvaraj — Open University of Sri Lanka
Dr. Priyantha Fernando — University of Kelaniya
Dr. Sakura Bogoda — University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Prof. Rohan Fernando — Open University of Sri Lanka
Prof. Janaka Kumarasinghe — University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Prof. Anil Jayantha — University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Senior Lecturer Sithumini Rathnamalala — University of Moratuwa
Lecturer Vijitha Pandithasekera — University of Moratuwa
Dr. Chaminda Samarasinghe — University of Moratuwa
Dr. R.W. de Mel — University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Senior Lecturer P. Senewiratne — Open University of Sri Lanka
Prof. Vasanthi Madurapperuma — University of Kelaniya
Dr. Thushara Rathnayake — University of Moratuwa
Dr. Deshani Hettiarachchi — University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Prof. Lalith Chandralal — University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Prof. Chamara de Alwis — University of Kelaniya
Dr. Kosala Bandara — Open University of Sri Lanka
Lecturer Manisha Warushavithana — Open University of Sri Lanka
Dr. Uthpala Jayawardena — Open University of Sri Lanka
Senior Lecturer Neelaka Shyaml Hapuarachchi — Open University of Sri Lanka
Senior Lecturer Ramidu Perera — Open University of Sri Lanka
Lecturer Shantha Puhulwella — University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Senior Lecturer D.S.P. Jayasuriya — University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Prof. Seetha Bandara — University of Kelaniya
Prof. Udayanga Hemapala — University of Moratuwa
Prof. Kithsiri Dissanayake — University of Moratuwa
Prof. E. Dayaratne — University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Senior Lecturer H.M. Aminda Lakmal — University of Sri Jayewardenepura
