Basil ‘can guide Sri Lanka’s economy through difficult times’

COLOMBO: There is a high public demand for former Minister Basil Rajapaksa to enter Parliament and guide the country’s economy which has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary, Parliamentarian Sagara Kariyawasam stated.

“If Basil Rajapaksa accedes to the public request, any SLPP MP in the National List would gladly give up their position in order for him to enter Parliament,” MP Kariyawasam pointed out.

MP Kariyawasam also said that the public expects former Minister Basil Rajapaksa to manage the economy which has been drastically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

MP Kariyawasam made these observations at a press brief held at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna headquarters in Battaramulla yesterday (28) morning.

He observed: “We do not need to launch a special campaign to bring Basil Rajapaksa to Parliament. He is the founder of this party. He is a brilliant politician who overcame the challenges placed by powerful parties and formed a new party within four years and guided it to forming a Government. Not only that, the people of this country are well aware of Basil Rajapaksa’s brilliant handling of the economy and his unique role in spearheading economic projects such as ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’ and ‘Nagenahira Navodaya.’

MP Kariyawasam also observed that from the day the new Parliament was inaugurated, members of parliament and former provincial council Members had made a number of requests for Basil Rajapaksa to come to Parliament and play a responsible role in this country.

“However, he did not give any response in this regard. Therefore, this request has been strongly directed to him again, because we as a country are in the midst of a catastrophe that has engulfed the world. If Basil Rajapaksa comes in, he has the capacity to turn things around,” MP Kariyawasam added.