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| Monday, 29 March 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| We must establish new political culture - PM from Bharatha Malawaraarachchi in Kurunegala Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe called on the people to give a strong mandate to the United National Front (UNF) to establish a new political culture deviating from the politics of promises, to solve the country's burning problems. "I am not ready to give false promises. We have to deviate from the traditional politics to find solutions to the country's main problems," the Prime Minister told election rallies in Galagedara, Bingiriya, Pannala, Katugampola, Wariyapola and Panduwasnuwara in support of UNF candidates contesting the general election from the Kurunegala district. "I am not ready to give promises to youth and ruin their freedom and future. I am not ready to engage in politics of promises. Our party is not willing to give false promises about employment opportunities," he added. He said steps should be taken to emerge out of the traditional political structure to achieve peace and development. "We have to think in a fresh manner while deviating from confrontational politics to solve problems faced by our people," the Prime Minister said. "When we came to power in 2001, I decided to shed traditional politics and think in a fresh manner. Today, only the UNF thinks and works in a novel way," he said. He said the President and the JVP were still following the traditional politics."Both the President and JVP are blaming me. But I do not want to blame anyone as our party is going to make a new change in the country." The Prime Minister explained that traditional politics had failed to resolve the country's main issues, specially the unemployment problem. "Therefore, we have to change this traditional political system to ensure a rapid growth in the country. We must establish a new political culture which speaks the truth." Wickremesinghe said only the UNP has presented a clear working program carrying comprehensive plans to develop every sector of the country to resolve unemployment and other burning issues. "We have presented a clear working program. Therefore, you have to decide whether you are voting for the clear program presented by the UNF or just promises announced by the Freedom Alliance." He said countries like Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore achieved progress as they discussed and implemented a clear program to develop the country. The Prime Minister said the prolonged war aggravated the unemployment problem. "Peace is necessary to generate employment. That's why we took steps to sign a cease-fire agreement to give stability to the peace process and create a peaceful atmosphere in the country." He explained the measures taken by his Government during the last two years to improve the economy and other sectors while laying emphasis to upgrade the country's infrastructure facilities. He said the Freedom Alliance had failed to present any alternative program to develop the country. "Even the JVP has no programs to offer solutions to the country's main problems. Only the UNF has a program to change the country for the better and enhance the country's economic growth," the Prime Minister said. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said while establishing peace during the last two years, his Government had taken steps to follow a new political culture. "I call on you to vote for the UNF to turn a new leaf in the politics of Sri Lanka and to establish a new political culture to ensure economic growth and prosperity," he said. |
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