President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that a true leader is someone who can work effectively with any team.
He criticized Sajith Premadasa, stating that despite the opposition leader talking about teamwork, he fails to take responsibility as a leader. Wickremesinghe also claimed that Sajith is currently fulfilling an agreement by supporting Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Reflecting on his own leadership, the President highlighted how he successfully steered the country’s economy through a challenging period, working alongside a dedicated team focused on national recovery. He reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the country’s development program with the team chosen by the people in the next general election.
President Wickremesinghe made these remarks during his address at the “Puluwan Sri Lanka” victory rally held at the Matugama private bus stand on Thursday (05).
During the event, the “Five-Pronged” youth proposal was presented to the President.
In his speech, President Wickremesinghe addressed questions regarding his political team, clarifying that his candidacy for the presidential election is not about selecting a group, but rather demonstrating the strength and responsibility required for leadership.
He emphasized that a capable leader does not necessarily need a team to talk about the responsibilities of the presidency.
The President also highlighted the proposal on the “re-examination and assessment of defence expenditure” outlined in the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s blueprint policy statement, urging them to provide an immediate explanation to the country regarding this matter.
“I work with the team I have, as a leader should be able to collaborate with any group. Currently, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has not been able to present a unified election manifesto. Instead, there are two conflicting ones,” he said.
Wickremasinghe stated that on one side, there is Nalaka Godahewa and G.L. Peiris, while on the other, Harsha de Silva and Kabir Hashim represent different ideas. These manifestos have inconsistencies, he charged.
“One of the policy statements mentions a re-examination and reassessment of defence expenditure, which implies a reduction in military spending. They need to explain this to the country,” the President emphasized.
