Prez promises to resolve ethnic issue this year

• Says cannot make false promises any longer thinking of tomorrow   
• Hopes to launch a political and economic reforms programme 

By Yohan Perera   

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday promised a new political programme where the ethnic issue will be resolved under a new Constitution. “We hope to get all political parties to agree to a solution to the ethnic issue by the end of the year,” the President, who joined the UNP May Day rally on Zoom, said. 

“We hope to launch a political and economic reforms programme to convert Sri Lanka into a developed nation within the next 25 years. We hope to develop a consensus among the political parties on a solution to the ethnic issue by the end of the year.  We also intend to bring in a new Constitution. We will complete appointing youth members to all Select Committees and Sectoral Oversight Committees within this month.  We will also introduce a Bill to set up Jana Sabhas soon,” he said.   

“We hope to implement the programme which we have drawn up with the IMF now that Parliament has approved it. “ he added.   

“Our aim is to establish a social market economy and I hope the SJB whose economic policy is close to that will support us in the future,” he said in this regard.   
“We cannot make false promises any longer thinking of tomorrow. It is essential to plan for the next 25 years. I request all political parties to join in making 2048 Sri Lanka’s year,” he also said.   

Ministers Fernando and Nanaykkara were among the speakers at the May Day rally while it was announced that both of them played a role in organizing it.