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I can restore normalcy in six months: Anura Kumara Dissanayake

06 Jul 2022

  • AKD promises to address shortages, school/office closures
  • Wants polls held after 6 months to form new Govt. 
  • Responds to PM’s challenge to present positive economic growth plan
BY Buwanajee Coralage Responding to a challenge by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake claimed in Parliament yesterday (5) that he is capable of bringing the country back into normalcy by forming a Government which would include Ministers and MPs from the current Parliament in a period of six months after which a stable and reliable Government should be appointed through the people’s mandate.  “On 11 May, we presented a set of suggestions for this country to emerge from this current crisis, which included that if the President and the Prime Minister agree to step down and allow us to form a Government with Ministers selected from the current Parliament, we are ready to take the responsibility and govern this country, moving forward,” said Dissanayake. He emphasised that his suggestion to form an interim Government for six months can solve the most pressing issues, including the lack of fuel and medicines, the closure of schools and Government institutions, and the collapse of factories, which would, in turn, bring about a state of normalcy back into the lives of the people. He claimed to be capable of doing this within a period of six months.  Moreover, justifying his calling for an election after six months, he emphasised on the need to reinstate the faith and trust of the people in the Government, noting that how this can be achieved is only by holding a General Election through which a reliable and stable Government can be established by the people’s mandate.  Dissanayake also claimed that Wickremesinghe lacks legitimacy as Prime Minister despite holding the post, citing his loss of the people’s favour, which led to his loss of Parliament seats at the last Parliamentary poll. Wickremesinghe entered the Parliament despite the loss through the United National Party’s (UNP) sole Parliamentary National List seat. Earlier, Wickremesinghe stressed in Parliament that there are no shortcuts to resolve the crisis, quoting National People’s Power (NPP) MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.  “She emphasised the other day that this crisis is not one that can be resolved in a few days or a few months as it is a more serious one. But if there is a more effective plan than the one we have presented, if there is a faster plan, then present it. We can discuss it. MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated that if he is handed over the country, it will be restored in six months.  “Indeed, it would be a very good thing if it could be done. Taking a country whose economic growth has fallen to negative six or seven percent to a positive economic growth rate in six months is an action that has never happened in any country in the world. But we cannot rule out Dissanayake’s opinion that it has not happened so far. It would be great if he has a plan to restore the country within six months.  “With such a plan, we will be able to restore the economy in a short period of time. Not only that, it also sets a good precedent for the world. Such a plan would be brilliant enough to win the Nobel Prize in Economics. So if there is such a plan, I am ready to resign and let him take up this position. I am ready to give up my position and support that programme,” he challenged.


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