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by Richmond Wijesekera,

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe called upon the country to give him a strong Parliament to enable him in implementing his vision for the nation.

Addressing an election rally in Elpitiya, Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the new Parliament after December 5 will be vested with enhanced powers so that it would have a direct hand in governance.

He expects to assign specific functions to all 225 MPs of the new Parliament who will be expected to pull their weight or depart under a government of his leadership.

Its aim to extinguish the three volcanoes namely the ailing economy, the prolonged war and the anarchist state.

This rally was organised by the Ex-MP Gayantha Karunatilake UNP candidate for the Galle district and Chief UNP organizer Bentara-Elpitiya.

Wickremesinghe also said: First of all the country has to be put back on the feet before embarking on a salvage program. Discipline and order is vital for the success of any development plan. The first three months of the new government would be devoted to pull the country out of its collapsed state.

I have a plan, a vision for the country. I will generate new avenues of income and put more money in the hands of the people. My aim is to make people live.

He said industries which have been shut down or on the verge of collapse would be revived with financial assistance from Banks while tourism will be given similar assistance to restart business in time to attract the summer tourists in the year 2002.

Measures would be taken to remove the various surcharges now levied on the shipping and aviation industry and provide boon to the export sector. To develop the tourist industry a Tourist Zone will be established from Bentota to Hambantota and more Tourist Hotels will be constructed along the beach.

Ranil Wickremesinghe also said: Harassments being done on women in the country are on the increase. Therefore time has come to focus special attention to this social menace and initiate viable programs to eliminate such occurrences from the society in the future.

Meanwhile we have decided to increase the women representation not only in the Parliament, but in all the Pradeshiya Sabhas too. We have also decided to release a women's manifesto in order to give special protection to the women.

My aim is to unite the "Thri Sinhala" so that through this we could find a solution in keeping with reasonable expectation of the minorities and develop the country, he also said.

Ex-MP Hemakumara Nanayakkara said: Although the PA government has been in power for the last seven years the Government has not been able to serve the people or ensure economic development. This dismal situation will change once a UNP Government headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe comes into power.

Nanayakkara also said: The economy has collapsed. Thousands of youth are jobless.

The cost of living has sky rocketed. The attack on the BIA has resulted in further economic setbacks. Only a UNP Government can bring this country out of this abyss.

Ex-MP Gayantha Karunatilake said: The people are eagerly wanting to elect a Government under the leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe who will resolve peace and unite country for the future generation. What the country needs today is a leader who could lend proper direction and one who would speak the truth. Not a single promise made in 1994 has been fulfilled. What right has the President to ask the people for another mandate. He urged the voters not to fall prey to the false propaganda by the Government of an "Ali-Koti Haula". No power on earth can turn the massive tide of support to the UNP and victory was assured on December 5th.

Lak Vanitha Secretary Ms. Apsara Botheju said that at least 75 per cent of women in this country is helping to improve the economy by indulging in various employment activities here and abroad, therefore it is the duty of everybody to discuss the day to day problems of women and help them. Under the "Diri Piyasa" program all needy women in this country will be provided with jobs as well as bank loans to start self employment projects.

Ex Minister S. B. Dissanayake, Ex-MP Sarath Gunawardene, SPC member and UNP candidate Jayantha Jayaweera, SPC member Gamini Abeywardene, Film Actress Anoja Weerasinghe, Ex-Minister Rupa Karunatilake and several others also spoke.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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