Colombo, Feb 23: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has called on the people to give his United National Front (UNF) a fresh and clear mandate to form a stable government for the next six years in order to bring peace and economic stability in the country.
Addressing the party's election convention at the Colombo Municipal Council grounds yesterday, Wickremesinghe blamed his political archrival, President Chandrika Kumaratunga for bringing down a democratically elected government four years ahead of schedule for mere political reasons.
''So far I have acted democratically, humanely and patiently for the two years the President worked with us. Why is she saying that she cannot work with us now? That is not a good excuse. With this action she has struck the people instead of us,'' he said.
Elaborating his government's achievements during the short spell of two years in the peace and economic fronts, Wickremesinghe said he promised to the people what he could give and was moving on the right direction to achieve an economic development through a lasting peace in the country.
''I only promised what I could give and the people must make an intelligent choice. I said we needed two years to repair the damage done to the nation and four more to develop it. Now there is an opportunity to govern again for six more years. This is a 'decisive' moment in the history, if you give me six more years I will create a new Sri Lanka. We will win,'' he said.
Wickremesinghe's comments have come at a time when major political parties are filing their nominations, which are scheduled to close by noon tomorrow.
Speaking at the rally, former leader of the House and Minister of Justice and Buddha Sasana W J M Lokubandara said a priority, after coming to power would be ''a no confidence motion against the President as she has been asking for it for sometime''. Bureau Report