Leader of the United National Party former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today unveiled the ‘Plan for the Building of Sri Lanka’ at the 75th Anniversary celebrations of the United National Party.
Speech by Ranil Wickremesinghe, Former Prime Minister and Leader of the United National Party
The country was ruled by the British for 134 years. Independence was achieved under the leadership of Mr. D.S. Senanayake. He created the United National Party to preserve the freedom gained, to establish Democracy, to create a Sri Lankan identity and to take the country towards development.
Today we proudly celebrate the 75th anniversary of the United National Party. We defended this country. We created new developments in every field. The country entered the path of development.
We saw the footsteps of that journey at the beginning of this commemoration.But today we are not living on the path to progress. We have to live in a country stuck in an abyss.
The country and the people are going through a very dangerous time. The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading rapidly in the country. Experts predict that 20,000 to 30,000 people will die.
Many people are losing their jobs during the recession. Big and small businesses both are going bankrupt. The maritime economy centered on the fishing industry has been destroyed.
Agriculture is paralyzed. Education has come to a standstill. Sri Lanka has become isolated from the world. The country’s economy is collapsing. The challenge before us is how to save the country from economic and political catastrophe and create a great Sri Lanka. If we fail to do that, remember that the future of our own daughters and sons, regardless of party affiliation, will be ruined.
As a party that has always overcome obstacles, we are ready to overcome the challenges facing the country this time as well.
Only the UNP will be able to recreate the great Sri Lanka at the dawn of the century of independence in another 27 years under a short-term plan, alongside a long-term program to revive the economy and rebuild the country.
In 1948, we were on an equal footing with Japan, the leading country in Asia. But today we are ahead only of Afghanistan. Therefore, the challenge before the country is to build a different, better Sri Lanka than the status quo. This is the best opportunity to talk about plans that can move the country forward.
Throughout history, as Governments have changed, so have our policies. If we, like Japan, China and Singapore, had followed the right long-term set of policies, we would be a developed nation today.
Therefore, we are proposing to develop the country in the future within the framework of an unchanging iron policy framework. It must be said that this policy framework is strengthened by a legal obligation not to change when governments change.
Only the UNP can create a united Sri Lanka that brings together all communities, Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers.
Building a country that protects democracy, human freedom and women’s rights is part of our “Greater Sri Lanka” program.
We propose fourfold security to create a great Sri Lanka and a prosperous future for the citizens. It can be defined first as health care and protection, second as economic security and protection, third as knowledge security and protection, and fourth as environmental protection and care.
Under health care, our primary objective is to create a healthy nation by protecting the people from the fear of epidemics as well as from other health hazards. Our second goal is to present a new economic program that achieves social justice that can compete with the world in economic security.
Our third objective is to create a 21st century society with a modern education system with innovative ideas that share knowledge equally.
Our fourth objective is to create a country based on the Paris Agreement that is resilient and will control climate change.
Our goal is to create a great Sri Lanka with these four opportunities. We present a new program to build a new Sri Lanka and create a new United National Party.
We suffered a major setback in the 2020 parliamentary elections. We followed the traditional methodology. But now is the time for us to change.
“In happiness – in misery, unwavering – unrepentant. We analyzed the defeat. There we learned a number of new things.
The people detest the current political system. Also, the government that deceived the country and the opposition which is limited to criticism are being rejected.
People expect principled politicians that cares about the country. The UNP system is the same. We are coming forward with the latest program. For that, we present a set of policies that are as strong and unchanging as an iron framework.
Today the emerging social pattern using computer technology, internet facilities and mobile phones,introduced by previous UNP governments, has emerged. It is based on this that, political parties in Japan as well as European countries communicate with their people. We are also implementing a program to restructure the party using the online technology they use. From today, we will implement a program that connects us with the people through new technology.
The UNP is not afraid to use modern technology. Today, our party convention is being held in a virtual manner that goes beyond the physical methodology that has been maintained so far. We will send our message to your mobile phone. Expect to address people using zoom technology.
We hope to hold 75 Zoom Conferences to discuss our Iron Policy Framework and the Fourfold Security,which will not change with the change of government. Our program consists of two parts.
One is to create a great Sri Lanka in the long run. The other short-term program is to build the country’s economy and provide relief to improve the living standards of the people.
The United National Party is moving forward as the new party after its 75th anniversary. We invite the youth to join our program and take the leadership of the party. We tell those who voted for other parties that we now have the new United National Party so we would love to work with you and we are ready to join you.
I say to the UNP, let’s all unite and move towards victory. Let us win … let us build the country … let us move forward with a fourfold security and protection through an iron frame that will never change. Then we will always have the help of the four gods.
Congratulations to the United National Party! Congratulations to the people!