• Pledges sustainable solution to minority issues with majority support

  Promising a sustainable solution to the issues faced by the non-Sinhalese communities, with the support of the Sinhalese community, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that a future Government led by them would be committed to implementing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Speaking at the SJB rally to mark the International Labour Day (May Day) yesterday (1 May) in Colombo, he emphasised his firm stance against extremism in all forms, stating, "We don’t allow extremism — whether racial or religious. We will not permit any form of terrorism to take root." 

Elaborating on the Party's approach to address the nation's political challenges, he said: "We will be reaching out to the majority Sinhalese population to offer a sustainable solution to the serious political issues plaguing our bankrupt country, especially focusing on the difficulties faced by non-Sinhalese communities." In addition, he said that a Government led by the SJB in the future would be committed to implementing the 13th Amendment. 

Refuting recently circulated reports that SJB Parliamentarians have facilitated certain individuals to obtain new liquor licences, he said that all liquor licences that have been issued illegally or improperly for political gain throughout the past would be revoked under a SJB Government. If there will be any objections to the programme, he said that the relevant revocations would be done in accordance with the Parliamentary rules and regulations. He further spoke about an alleged ongoing land racket in several Provinces, condemning the politicians involved in such illegal activities. "Today, a large-scale land robbery is taking place across many parts of our country," he said, emphasising that certain politicians are misusing their power by distributing large plots of land to their allies. "These corrupt individuals are handing out 10, 20, 50, even 100 acres to their close associates, while honest people are left without land”. He reassured those affected by the alleged irregularities that justice would be served. 

"I would like to warn those who support these land grabs and receive land in illegal ways that all stolen lands will be reclaimed and used for investment, and to provide land to those in need, as well as for the new entrepreneurial culture that we will be fostering," he declared. 

The plantation sector was another area that he focused on during his speech. Premadasa, who has already declared that he would run for the upcoming Presidential Election, pointed out that the Government and private plantation companies hold a significant portion of barren lands. "Tea small holders, who hold only 40% of the tea cultivations in the country, contribute 70% to the annual tea production, while public and private plantation companies, owning 60%, contribute only 30%," he said, and proposed an initiative to rectify this imbalance and support small-scale tea planters. "We will be developing barren lands as small-scale tea plantations, allowing the landless plantation sector workers and the youth community to grow into successful tea entrepreneurs." 

Speaking further, he stressed the need to have a national wealth fund to secure the prosperity of future generations. "A Government led by us would establish such a fund with the goal of ensuring a more stable economy. The plan for this fund is part of a broader initiative to address poverty and improve living conditions. In addition to the fund, he announced a new poverty alleviation programme that goes beyond the 'Jana Sawiya' social welfare programme, and assured the rescue of those trapped by microfinance schemes. 

He revealed their plan to serve justice to those affected by the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 21 April 2019. "We will definitely investigate the root cause of the terror attacks. We have already handed over our programme to the Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. Our goal is not just to bring those responsible before the law, but also to ensure that those who didn’t prevent it are held accountable." He stressed that the programme is designed to enforce the maximum punishment for those involved in the attacks and the subsequent cover-up of those responsible for it. 

"We are working to create one million new entrepreneurs," announced Premadasa, highlighting a key initiative aimed at revitalising the economy under a Government led by them. He emphasised that every Government institution must be made more efficient to support this goal. "Public-private partnership programmes should be implemented to turn loss making institutions into profit making ones," he said, pointing out that these initiatives will however not compromise national security. Premadasa also said that an amended version of the agreement with the International Monetary Fund would be designed to guide the country in the right direction while ensuring the welfare of citizens. "Our programme will include protecting the rights of children, mothers, and all other women through the creation of a Presidential Task Force (PTF) and national commissions. A special programme will be launched for women-headed families, and the 1.7 million disabled persons. A national youth project to empower youth, with a youth commission and a Youth PTF, are also part of our programme." 

He highlighted that the strategy under a future SJB Government to fight corruption would involve establishing independent institutions that are immutable and transparent, achieved by adding strong clauses to the Constitution. This effort, he said, will include a programme to recover lost or stolen Government money and property, ensuring that thieves and corrupt individuals, regardless of rank, are brought to justice. "A Government led by us will also aim to support smart farmers and fishermen, add new technology to farming, fishing and other industries, and provide higher interest rates on the savings of the elderly. The protection of workers' rights and the creation of a conducive environment for investments are assured. 

Education modernisation is one of our key focuses, with plans to convert 10,126 Government schools into smart schools," Premadasa further said, adding that the health system modernisation would also be launched, with an emphasis on both the prevention of diseases, and treatment. He added that sustainable environmental conservation, a people centric economic policy, and social democracy would also be implemented, following a middle path. 

He responded to questions raised by various parties about his political actions, particularly regarding him declining the offer made by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to become the Prime Minister. "Some people ask me why I didn’t make use of the 'short cut' to become the Premier. I would like to tell them, I was called 10 times before the constitutional crisis in 2018 (replacement of then Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe with then Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa by then President Maithripala Sirisena), and 61 times after it, with invitations to become the Premier." He stressed that he does not make decisions out of personal ambition. "I will never make decisions based on the need to achieve my goals. My decisions are made with the country's best interests in mind," Premadasa assured the public, stating that they have nothing to worry about, emphasising the SJB's commitment to establish a clean Government. 

"The SJB will soon take responsibility with an excellent mandate and turn this country into a developing nation under an honest, clean, and transparent governance style without theft, projecting a vision of accountability and integrity for the future."