As campaigning ends, I wish all candidates the very best of luck

Today, at 12 midnight, all election campaigning will come to an end, as Sri Lanka is just days away from electing their new President.

These past few weeks, since campaigning began, it was a real honor for me to visit several districts, representing your leader, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the SLPP, and meet citizens young and old, and discuss issues they have been facing during the past four years under the present government and also educate them on the policies set by Mr Rajapaksa.

Many, are suffering and many are hoping for a change. Come Nov. 17, and I am confident Gotabaya Rajapaksa will be your new President as he has a vision to work for the people, including the masses and lead this nation forward.

Every election campaigning has been a brand new experience for me as a politician and within these past few weeks, I met many citizens, including young children who had so much to propose and discuss. It was so great to meet a cross section of people who brought a smile on my face and joy to my heart. Sri Lanka may be a small country, but the hearts of our citizens, are as deep as the ocean. Religion, race, caste does not matter. 

Amidst the mudslinging by the UNP and the false accusations against Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, what I noted during campaigning is that the people do not care about politicians’ cheap tactics. All what the people want is a true, visionary leader, who can bring relief to their lives. Their issues are far severe. Many do not have homes, many are unemployed, children do not have adequate facilities to go to school, schools need updated facilities, women need to be encouraged to be employed and many eat only a meal a day.

It will be a task for the new President to bring things in order, after the severe failures of this government within the past 4 years but Mr Rajapaksa will now turn this country around for the betterment of all its citizens, once again.

I was also given the task by my party, the SLPP to campaign on behalf of Mr Rajapaksa in the north and east and my constituency, Hambantota. The experience was great because I learnt so much. The north and east are districts with so much potential and the citizens are yearning for development and basic needs. The civil war set us all back severely but these districts suffered the most. There is much work to be done.

I thank, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, my father Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa who has taught me all the basics of politics and what it is like to be a people’s leader. His vision for this country is great, and within these past four years, he never stopped working for all citizens. I also thank the SLPP for giving me the opportunity to campaign in challenging districts such as the north and east. I also thank social volunteers who were with us, the media for their tireless efforts in reporting, the tri forces and police for giving us the necessary security, Viyathmaga, my staff and all members of the SLFP and our coalition partners. But most of all I thank you, the people, for being there for all my campaigns, for listening and having confidence in my party and your leader, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

I also want to especially thank Mr. Basil Rajapaksa for formulating plans which led to a successful and fantastic campaigning. He has worked tirelessly within these past four years for the party and I appreciate these efforts.

Hopefully, come Saturday, Sri Lankans will exercise their vote, and I hope you vote wisely. It was a fantastic campaigning and I wish all candidates, especially Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the very best of luck.