President and Independent Presidential Candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasizing the need to strengthen the rupee and create jobs, outlined his administration’s commitment to generating 100,000 new jobs in the coming year.
He highlighted initiatives focused on the private sector and self-employment, including providing training wages to incentivize companies to retain employees.
“We are focusing on the private sector and self-employment, sending personnel to private companies while providing training wages. These initiatives are designed to incentivize companies to retain these employees,” he explained.
Wickremesinghe also announced plans to direct personnel towards jobs in smart agriculture, aiming to transform Sri Lanka into an export-driven economy. He emphasized the importance of developing tourism, attracting new investments, and boosting export trade, with a dedicated plan already in place.
“Currently, we have the Biyagama A and B investment zones, and in the next phase, we will introduce Keragala as Zone C, covering approximately 120 acres. There are also 60-70 acres, which will be allocated to companies for starting agricultural industries, creating numerous job opportunities,” he detailed.
The President urged supporters to spread his message, particularly in the Gampaha district, where comprehensive development plans are underway.
He also addressed the divide within the United National Party (UNP) and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), urging UNP members to vote for him.
“To the UNP members, I want to say that now we have a divide with SJB. But remember, a vote for Sajith is essentially a vote for Anura. Encourage the UNP supporters to vote for me. Cast your vote for the ‘Gas Cylinder’, because if we don’t, this country could explode just like a gas cylinder,” Wickremesinghe concluded.
President and Independent Presidential Candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe also took aim at his political rivals, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Sajith Premadasa, for their promises to reduce taxes.
Wickremesinghe warned that such measures could lead to a decline in government revenue, drawing parallels to the economic turmoil experienced under former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, which saw the rupee plummet to alarming levels against the dollar.
“Anura and Sajith claim they will reduce taxes. But when taxes are reduced, government revenue declines. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa did the same, and as a result, people ended up in long queues. Do we really want to see the rupee fall to 370 or 400 against the dollar again? I say to them: stop making false promises,” Wickremesinghe stated.