I hand over the dear child called Sri Lanka to President Anura kumara Dissanayake :Ranil

By Yohan Perera   
Outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe who vacated the President’s office and the official residence at Pajet Road said he has handed over the dear child called Sri Lanka to President-elect Anura Kumara Dissanayake   
“Mr. President, here I hand over to you with much love, the dear child called Sri Lanka, whom we both love very dearly. I wish that you will be able to carry this child away from the bridge to the other bank, even safer than the way I carried the child,” he said speaking to media before he left office.   

“I will be devoted to serving my motherland with or without power, with or without a post or powers, for the rest of my life,” he added.   
“Two years ago, I took over a bankrupt country and a collapsed economy at an extremely turbulent time. I accepted the challenge at a time when no one else had the courage to face it. I successfully completed the responsibility that history put upon my shoulders,” he added.   
I was able to rescue my motherland from bankruptcy within a short period of two years. I believe this to be the most important thing I could do for my country during my political career. Inflation was 70% when I took over the country, but I could reduce it to 0.5% during my time as the President. I increased the Foreign Reserve, which was at USD 20 Million when I came to power, to USD 5.7 Billion, Mr. Wickremesinghe stated.   
He observed that he was able to ensure that the Sri Lankan Rupee which was 380 against the US Dollar, came down to a strong and solid amount of 300.   
“When I took over, the economic growth of the country was negative 7.3% (- 7.3%). But I was able to increase it to positive 2.3% (2.3%). I am happy and proud about it. I believe that the future generation of the country will give the proper assessment for my historical political role, the way it deserves. I am aware that my place in history as the ruler of this country will be decided not today, but in future” he noted.