Presidential candidate of the New Democratic Front Sajith Premadasa attended a number of rallies organized in the Matara and Galle Districts yesterday (October 24).
Large crowds attended the rally organized in Karrandeniya, Galle despite the heavy showers that battered the district throughout the day.
Presidential Candidate Sajith Premadasa received a warm welcome at the rally.
A group of local government representatives from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, representatives of trade unions pledged their support to Sajith Premadasa.
Another rally was held in Ja-Ela, Gampaha today.
Minister Sajith Premadasa:
“Our opponents are questioning us as to where can we find the money to do all of this? I would like to ask them, where did the funds to construct the Lotus Tower come from? Who did you take loans from to construct the Sooriyawewa cricket grounds? If the Lotus Tower can be constructed if cricket grounds can be built, then why is it a mistake to provide lunch to 4.4 million children in our country?
Why is providing these children with a pair of shoes wrong? A mansion has been built in Jaffna for the president to live in. It has a swimming pool and a gym. If mansions can be constructed in Jaffna for the president to enjoy, why are they disturbed if we provide the Samurdhi and the Janasaviya together?
Who says there is no money? I would like to tell you that there is enough money. The problem is that our opponents have certain dreams while on their way to the office of the president. They dream of converting the national treasury into a private property owned by their family.”
Sajith Premadasa also said that he will impose the maximum punishment against people connected to terrorism.
Minister Sajith Premadasa:
“We will bring before the law groups and individuals who are involved in terrorism and we will have to impose the death penalty against them.
Who will speak on behalf of the children and the families that were slaughtered in Kochchikade, Katuwapitiya and the Zion church in Batticaloa? Who will represent them? Is life imprisonment the maximum punishment that we can give those involved in these heinous crimes.
No, my friends, as one country without any divisions in religion or race, if an allegation of terrorism is proved against anyone, under our government even regrettably we will take steps to impose the death penalty against them.
Then people who are involved in these acts of terrorism will think twice, thrice, or even more before getting involved in these acts of terrorism. The group who planned that deadly attack have been apprehended. I am strongly of the stance that the death penalty should be imposed against them.”
An intellectual meeting titled ‘Mega Minds’ was held in Kelaniya last evening.
Minister Sajith Premadasa:
“We must always act in a manner that does not affect any particular group in society and we must be dedicated to creating an economic system that is fair by all classes of society. We are not providing ad hoc tax concessions, we have a target.
When the production capacity increases you have incentives to develop even further. The policy of the country should be one with more pros and fewer cons. Policies are generally formulated based on the whims and fancies of certain people.
Something that someone whispered in some ears becomes national policy, that cannot happen. We have not even thought about bringing down women from Europe and hosting races opposite the temple of the sacred tooth relic, we will not even allow anything like that to happen. But for some people this is patriotism.
That is how they protect the Sambuddha Sasana. They ride racing cars in front of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and host musical shows there. Sri Lankans must remember these bitter memories of the past. The alternative to our journey is to hand the country over to be ruled by one family.”
