Some candidates request support but will remain neutral: CBK

By Ajith Siriwardana

Claiming that some presidential candidates sought her support, former president Chandrika Kumaratunga said yesterday she decided to remain neutral at the presidential election 2024.   

Kumaratunga said many media had reported that she was supporting various candidates in the upcoming Presidential Election and that she would not extend her support to any candidate at the 2024 Presidential Election.   

She said all voters must reflect seriously when deciding to cast their vote and take into consideration not the individual, but programmes of action presented by each candidate, the manner, procedures and systems they will employ to implement the programmes, as well as the people who will be in charge of implementation.   

“Priority should be given to the abolition of the Executive Presidency and to policies for the sectors of; Education, Health, Agriculture (especially small farmer agriculture), Small / Medium Industries and Enterprises, diversification of major industries and exports, as well as the Plantation Sector, International Trade and Tourism. The voters, have an inalienable right to demand an assurance from the candidate of our choice, good and honest governance and the elimination of corruption in government, proper implementation of the promised policies. Most importantly, this would mean the appointment of persons of high integrity, merit and qualifications to the Legislation, the Executive and Judiciary, and to all high posts of government,” she said.   

“Let us not forget the massive people’s movement, englobing the entire country, that erupted 2 ½ years ago in 2022, demanding honesty and accountability in government – A Radical System Change. I believe this cannot be achieved through the present system where the citizens vote every 5 years to establish a government but have no say or participation in the way government is managed during the ensuing 5 year period.   

“A government structure that includes citizen participation in government – in decision making and implementation is the only solution that could minimize wrong doing in government and achieve our dream of a System Change,” she said.