President Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed his commitment to integrating Generation Z into society and empowering them to take responsibility for the country’s development.
He said he believes this will enable Sri Lanka’s youth to shape the society they envision for themselves.
The President emphasized that, like in other countries, Sri Lankan youth should be given the opportunity to influence the nation’s future. He acknowledged that Sri Lanka had once been ahead of many developed nations but has since fallen behind due to traditional politics and misleading slogans.
President Wickremesinghe addressed these points during the ‘#AskRanil’ youth meeting held yesterday (09) at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo.
President Wickremesinghe also highlighted the importance of maintaining the economic stability achieved over the past two years, warning that without continued efforts, the economy could collapse again. To secure the future of the country and its youth, he stated that he needs the next five years to make crucial decisions.
In response to a question, the President clarified that reports suggesting the Cabinet had not approved the planned salary increase for 2025 were incorrect, confirming that approval had already been granted.
When asked about his plan for young people as the economy grows, he said, “My plan is to empower the Gen Z generation to take responsibility for building the future they want by integrating them into society. They must determine the future they desire.”
Wickramasinghe stated that when he was around 20, they faced issues under the leadership of Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike and that they worked with President J.R. Jayewardene, who told them to shape society the way they wanted after he became president. “He opened up the economy and initiated the Mahaweli project.”
He stressed the importance of building a peaceful society that can overcome the crises of the past two years while also improving the country’s economy.
Wickremesinghe argued that Sri Lanka cannot afford to remain a poor country indefinitely, drawing a comparison to his younger days when Japan lagged behind Sri Lanka, whereas now, countries like Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Laos are trailing Sri Lanka.
He warned that without swift action, these countries could overtake Sri Lanka and futility of making empty political promises and emphasized the need for making decisions about the future, as other nations that have rebuilt themselves have done.
He attributed the current situation to past deceptions, unsustainable giveaways, and excessive borrowing, suggesting that more honest and responsible approaches could have prevented the country’s current predicament.
He continued, “Now, this generation has been burdened with repaying debts they didn’t incur. Therefore, we must set the path to build a better society, one that avoids such crises in the future. It is your responsibility to carry this forward.”
When asked why Gen Z should choose him as the next President, Ranil Wickremesinghe highlighted his efforts to stabilize the country’s daily life despite challenges like rising prices. He emphasized that ensuring economic stability is crucial to avoid a repeat of past crises, making the next five years vital for securing the country’s future.
“But stability alone is not enough how will we generate the foreign exchange we need? Our income is insufficient to cover our imports, and export revenue is inadequate. Only by expanding our export economy can we build a resilient financial system. Otherwise, in 15 years, we could face a collapse even more severe than Argentina’s,” he said.
Further highlighting his economic goals, he noted that Sri Lanka’s GDP was USD 89 billion in 2019, and his aim is to increase it to between USD 350 and USD 400 billion by 2025.
He assured that, “even if we are no longer here, we are committed to laying the foundation for you to build a prosperous and resilient state.”
