Sri Lanka elections: Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa speaks exclusively to NDTV about his vision
Colombo:
Sri Lanka, slowly recovering from its worst-ever economic crisis, will vote on Saturday to elect its next president. As current President Ranil Wickremesinghe seeks another term, he is being challenged by main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa.
Mr Premadasa, 57, is the son of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa. He heads the Samagi Jana Balawegaya Party or SJB, which split from Ranil Wickremesinghe’s party – United National Party or UNP – in 2020.
Mr Premadasa’s centrist, more left-wing party has called for major changes to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) $2.9 billion bailout program and has itself outlined plans to adjust some targets, such as changing taxes to reduce the cost of living. . He plans a very different approach to that of Mr Wickremesinghe.
Mr Premadasa favors a mix of interventionist and free-market economic policies, has promised subsidies and has been accused of also promising freebies at his election rallies. But he says he has a different vision for Sri Lanka and a plan for how he wants to achieve it.
In an exclusive speech to NDTV, Mr. Premadasa spoke about how his vision differs from that of the current regime, how he plans to revive the economy in a different way than the current president does, how he looks at the relationship between India and Sri Lanka and how he plans to tackle the crisis. China.
Here are the key highlights from his interview with NDTV:
Q) What do you think makes these elections so important and crucial?
A) Sri Lanka is facing multiple crises. Economically, socially and politically – and we do not have a legitimate government in the sense that the current government is an extension of the government that was primarily responsible for Sri Lanka’s bankruptcy. It is exactly the same parliamentary majority that led to the bankruptcy. So, the Sri Lankan people are eagerly waiting to express their views and give a mandate for change. Changes that will make the country prosperous.
Q) It is widely recognized that the incumbent president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, is credited with bringing stability to the economy, but you say he is part of the problem and not part of the solution – that is a serious accusation. Could you please explain this?
A) When someone unpacks his laurels and takes to the streets and talks to the poor, the downtrodden, the self-employed, the working population, the entrepreneurs, the rural and urban real estate sector; if you look at the key sections of society, other than those who are super rich, people who have suffered adverse effects, and if I may give you some statistics… statistics established by the government statistics department have illustrated that more than 260,000 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises have closed. Millions have become unemployed, millions more have become poor, and the government has no strategy to deal with it.
Micro, small and medium enterprises contribute to 50% of GDP and employ more than 4 million people. So the people are suffering under the policies of a government that has effectively suffocated the people. So if you achieve stability at a high human cost… at a cost that causes people to suffer, then I don’t think this is the right way to do it.
Q) Comparatively, what is your action plan?
A) Where we procrastinate is that we will grow out of the problem. We need to be on a massive economic growth trajectory. Huge amounts of foreign direct investment are pouring into Sri Lanka, restructuring society to ensure entrepreneurs can thrive. That the grip of bureaucracy, which has effectively stifled entrepreneurship, must end. Make sure businesses thrive… make sure micro, small and medium industries get enough support. What you have now is not inclusivity, it is exclusive.
Q) How do you plan to guarantee all this? How will you solve the financing problem? And also ensure that the economy grows and does not shrink as a result of the financial crisis?
A) You are absolutely right when you say that the economy is vulnerable. That vulnerability is no excuse to be corrupt… to plunder the public coffers. If we are elected, we want to ensure that we follow good governance practices…ensuring that the major indices that contribute to foreign direct investment, good governance and ease of doing business indices…We must have a have a responsible government, a transparent government and an accountable government. All three are currently missing.
Q) One of the criticisms that your party has largely faced is that you are promising large subsidies and freebies to people at a time when the economy is facing a shortage of funds. Where will the funds come from? Wouldn’t that further endanger the economy?
A) We will eradicate the current crony capitalist structure. We will ensure that growth becomes the most important phenomenon in our economic programme. This government does not understand growth. They are experiencing shrinking growth. To show everyone that the economy is stable, you make everything smaller. That is not the right way. We have to grow out of the problem. So stability with malnutrition, stability with massive unemployment, stability with contraction in growth, stability with loss of livelihood, stability with lower living standards… I’m sorry, I disagree. The difference between the government and us is that we not only focus on the macroeconomy, but also on the microeconomy. So we opt for an overarching, integrated approach, while this government is only interested in showing the whole world and a certain class in our country that everything is stable and in order.
Q) India has strategic interests in the region. India had and still has very close ties with Sri Lanka. How do you view the relationship between India and Sri Lanka from now on?
A) When you talk about recovery, I must say that in these very difficult and difficult times, India has been one of the countries that has been very generous and very supportive… and I would like to thank the people of India very much. government, Prime Minister Modi’s government, and also to the people of India… and to the various states that have come forward to help our country. So thank you very much. That said, I don’t think Sri Lanka is on the right path to recovery. So we will ensure that we pursue a very balanced policy. Where India has a role to play is that our external affairs policies will be aimed at advancing our national interests. We will do what is right for our country, and it is in the interest of our country to have cordial relations with India and the rest of the powers of the world.
We do what we recognize that we have a special relationship, a kinship, a camaraderie between our two countries and we have a history of positive, progressive and good relations. We must build on that and I believe we will ensure that the mutual interests that are important to both of us are achieved.
Q) China is a major player in the region and in recent years there has been an increase in Chinese investment and an increase in the presence of the Chinese Navy in the region. How do you view the Chinese comparison for Sri Lanka?
A) As I told you, we have a special relationship with India in our external relations. But we must also work together with all other nation states. I am the only politician (from Sri Lanka) who has proposed the inclusion of India in the United Nations Security Council. That said, we as a country will work with all other countries, all other democracies and all other nation states to ensure that Sri Lanka’s national interests are achieved. We will not work in any way to undermine the security and geopolitical interests of others.
Q) What is your reasoning for wanting India as a veto power in the UN Security Council?
A) Well, that’s an important reflection of global geopolitical realities and I have to say it’s not just China… all five permanent members of the UN Security Council have veto power. Sri Lanka as a whole has been very balanced. We want to ensure that we protect our interests and also ensure that the interests of other nation states are not compromised and neutralized. So we are very sensitive to ensure that we do not interfere in the affairs of other countries.
Q) What would be your key expectation or demand from India, considering your vision for Sri Lanka and the region?
A) First of all, I have to say that I am not demanding. I always use the power to convince. I will use all the skills at my disposal to convince India to invest more in Sri Lanka, to support Sri Lanka to get out of this problem, to help the people of Sri Lanka… to ensure ensure that social and economic stability is protected. So I would use my power to persuade your great country, India, to protect the human rights of the Sri Lankan people, not only their political and civil rights, but also their economic rights, their social rights, their right to life, the right to alleviate poverty, to alleviate unemployment… and that is the arena in which we hope to work with India.