Presidential election 2024  

• Says this is an opportunity to get a UNP President and UNP government

United National Party (UNP) Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene over the weekend declared that President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s candidature at this year’s Presidential election is confirmed.  

“Many express doubts on incumbent President Wickremesinghe contesting this year’s Presidential election. However, no one should hold on to doubts as his candidature is confirmed,” Mr. Wijewardene told the UNP Galle District convention over the weekend.   He then called for the party machinery to do its utmost to ensure that Mr. Wickremesinghe is elected President of this country. “This is an opportunity to get a UNP President and a UNP led government elected. We did form a government during the past years but we were not able to gain control of it. We have now got an opportunity to form a proper government and let’s work towards achieving our goal,” he added.   

“ Mr. Wickremesinghe has proven that he can change things. There was a shipment of fuel idling at the port as the government did not have funds to pay for it when Mr. Wickremesinghe took over as the Prime Minister. Mr. Wickremesinghe then met the Central Bank Governor and the Treasury Secretary and questioned them on available foreign reserves. Sri Lanka had only a few million dollars. Then, he summoned a few businessmen and heads of a few private banks and requested them to release funds to pay for the shipment. He told them that they have more funds than the Sri Lankan government. Sri Lanka needs a leader who could make such bold decisions, “ he also said.