- Says traditional politics and rhetoric is not the need of hour
The need of hour is for the Presidential candidates to have a robust discussion on strategies and policies which can help move Sri Lanka towards recovery and growth, not the usual political rhetoric or populist ideas which have been used to mislead the public in the past, Sarvajana Balaya Presidential candidate entrepreneur Dilith Jayaweera said last Sunday (18).
“What is is expected from all the Presidential candidates is to present the concepts and strategies of how to bring about positive change in the country through scholarly dialogue, not to deceive people in the same old way using political rhetoric,” Jayaweera said addressing a group of intellectual’s at the party head office in Borella.
He charged that one of the most important figures among the Presidential candidates, Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the NPP, has one of the most fake political approaches he has seen. "I'm sorry to say. Anura Kumara is the biggest liar because he has been in two governments directly and has helped almost every government indirectly. Since then, he has not brought a proposal even as a member of Parliament to change this country," Jayaweera charged.
"Our society is demanding a change. A large part of the society, including the Sri Lankan youth who participated in the ‘aragalaya,’ did so with the sincere expectation of transforming Sri lankan politics. They want change. However, today, with Election called, about 40 candidates have appeared for this Presidential Election. There are about 5 main candidates. Sajith Premadasa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Namal Rajapaksa are among the candidates who are said to be in the top five. So, what is the difference here? What is the change you can see? All these five have been in the Parliament of Sri Lanka for at least 20 years. All these have been Cabinet ministers. Anura Kumara was one of the most powerful Cabinet ministers in Sri Lanka. There has never been a Ministry of Agriculture as powerful as him. Same applies to Prince Namal (Rajapaksa). He was given five ministries. In the last Government, a position was created to supervise all the Cabinet ministers. Now these are the people who tell us that we need to make some changes.
One of the reasons for this country being so corrupt is the proportional election system. This is the main reason for corrupt politics in Sri Lanka, I think. Such people, when they were in power have not made a single proposal to change this corrupt politics, except they opposed the proposals that were brought. Now the concept has been proposed that the member of Parliament who is responsible for that subject ministry, should be held responsible for what happens in that sector. These people are against that too. Why? Is it because they are part of this corrupt politics that has ruined this country?” Jayaweera questioned.
He questioned how the other candidates will change politics and governance in Sri Lanka to bring the country to the level people aspire it to be.
“Doesn't this country need a vision? Doesn't this country need a strategic plan? Shouldn't we present a necessary programme for the positive transformation that this country demands? We have submitted the second draft of this strategic programme to scholars like you after taking the people's opinions,” Jayaweera said, pointing to the need for a broad policy discussion to ensure Sri Lanka can stage a long-term recovery, which will lead to sustainable growth. He urged the public and other politicians to change the way they think and to debate their policy suggestions and strategies about navigating Sri Lanka away from the crisis.