Colombo, Sep 16 (Agency) Independent candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe highlighted his government’s 10-year plan to end the country’s economic crisis, stating that a break in this phase will result in no recovery, as campaigning for the September 21 Presidential Election continues. “Look I am coming here to win. But we have a 10-year phase and I will not be there all the time. If it breaks at any time there is no recovery,” the Daily Mirror quoted Wickremesinghe.While maintaining that he was confident to win Saturday’s Presidential Election, Wickremesinghe said that his opponents – Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake – could compete with him as it was a democratic country but questioned why they failed to take leadership in 2022 when the country faced its worst ever crisis, reports said. “They have to tell us what they did two years ago,” Wickremesinghe said. “Both of them had a chance. Both of them had the opportunity to come and take over.
No one did. They gave reasons. Then I asked them to join me. They did not join me either. So they cannot say they were not asked,” Wickremesinghe said. Speaking of his immediate plans if he wins the Presidency, Wickremesinghe said that from the very next day after his victory he will implement the Puluwan Sri Lanka manifesto, according to reports. He said the next government would build a strong Sri Lanka especially for the youth and he encouraged those who left the country following the 2022 crisis, to return to help develop the country, incumbent president added. “I might not be around by 2048, but at the moment, getting the economy moving, creating more income opportunities, and improving education is very vital. And for those getting married, we need to have housing in different areas. So as the country improves, it is the youth that will benefit,” Wickremesinghe said. The incumbent president further said that if he succeeds the Presidential Election, he will begin work from the very next day, the reports added.