President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that he expects to reach an agreement this year to solve the country’s long-drawn ethnic issue with the Government’s commitment to policies that benefit all communities in Sri Lanka.

He has said he intends to address the ethnic problem in the country while implementing the agreement with the IMF, noting that it is important to move forward while respecting and protecting the rights of all communities.

He said this while joining the United National Party May Day celebrations held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo today (01) virtually.

In order to address the issues faced by the Tamil community in this country, it is futile for Tamil political parties to distance themselves & called on all parties to work together towards building a new, competitive, and sustainable economy that is inclusive and just for all communities in Sri Lanka, he added.

In his May Day address, the President said, “My motivation was not rooted in politics, but in properly managing the country’s economy and alleviating the burdens on its citizens. For this reason, I took on the role of the presidency, as I had faith in my ability to revive the economy and work alongside supportive ministers to achieve these outcomes.

President Wickremesinghe also noted that as the country approaches the centenary of independence in 2048, the goal should be to become a country with a developed economy, just like India aims to achieve in 2047 and China in 2049. “Let 2048 be the year of development for Sri Lanka. We are not only building this economy for the present generation but also for the youth and children of the future.” 

“We need to address the growing demand for change in our political and economic systems, particularly from the youth. As leaders, it is our responsibility to listen to their voices and take action,” he said.

Considering the growing demand for political & economic change, particularly from the youth, the President said it is the responsibility of political leaders to listen to their voices & take action. Additionally, the Government plans to submit the Jana Sabha draft to  Parliament, following former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s proposal.