Let us all unite and transform our city into the most beautiful city. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the NPP unites everyone without any discrimination to achieve one objective in mind.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing public gatherings held on April 28 in Dematagoda, Kotahena, Maradana, and Kompannaveediya in the Colombo District.
Addressing the gatherings, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated:
The annual revenue of the Colombo Municipal Council is Rs. 30 billion. Colombo possesses a wealthy municipal council so the municipal council is possessed by everything they need. Hence, how much could these areas be developed by the municipal council? But they do not have empathy for the people; nor a genuine desire to uplift the lives of citizens. Despite our criticism, nothing substantial happens. The first image that comes to mind when referring to the Colombo municipal council is that of a den of corruption, an institution where funds are squandered and no meaningful work is accomplished. This image must change. In 2024, the people of this country commenced a journey to transform the nation. They made two historic decisions at the Presidential and Parliamentary elections to change the course of our country’s history. As a result, we now have a government that represents all citizens, a government that echoes the voices and addresses the needs of every one of you.
You may recall that elections were initially due in 2023. At that time, we proposed to start rebuilding the nation from the grassroots. However, as the National People’s Power was gaining momentum, what did Ranil Wickremesinghe do? He cancelled the elections. We had to resort to legal action to secure our right to vote. It was through these legal battles that we were able to protect our democratic rights and ensure the Provincial Council Elections, albeit delayed by two years. Let us now take the historic journey that began in 2024 forward to the Municipal Councils.
Our opponents say many things about us, but they cannot accuse us of corruption. We safeguard public funds. Since the day president Anura Kumara was elected, we have demonstrated how a government should be run.
When we look at the situation, there is no doubt that on May 6, the National People’s Power will secure victory in the Colombo city. Our sister, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, is poised to become the next Mayor in Colombo municipal council. You will have a Mayor who is accessible to you, who you can easily approach and speak with, accompanied by a highly capable team. She has a strong desire to develop and beautify this city so that we can all take pride in it.
I know that all of you have dreams, and the children here dream of a bright future. We must reform our education system. Just as we have taken responsibility for preschools through the Municipal Council, we are making great efforts at the national level to rebuild the education system.
We aspire to create schools where every child will genuinely enjoy attending, schools that do not burden children or their parents. Education should not merely be confined to textbooks and exams, it should open the world to our children and broaden their horizons.
Colombo is a truly special place, and this area holds even greater uniqueness. As I travelled here, I passed a beautiful kovil, saw a Buddha statue in front, and a statue of Mary nearby. The church is not far either. This diversity enriches us. Although concentrated in a small area, the understanding and empathy fostered among communities is remarkable. Even in the nearby shops, one can find diverse and delicious cuisines.
When we talk about tourism, this is what international visitors should experience. They should be able to witness and enjoy this rich diversity. These attractions must be preserved and presented in an appealing manner. Colombo must not only be known for its five-star hotels, but also as a city rich in culture, beauty, and diversity. We must showcase this to the world.
Through the new education reforms, you have entrusted us with great power to fulfil all our promises. The reason why we gained this mandate is to fulfill and implement the agreements, discussions, and social contracts and that the very foundations on we are committed to implementing them with dedication. In achieving this process we expect your support in establishing a transparent and clean municipal council.
Through the first budget we approved in March this year, we have allocated funds for preschools, road construction, water management, waste management, and drainage systems. These allocations address issues that have long affected your daily lives. These funds were gathered through significant sacrifices, for the benefit of the people. We cannot allow them to fall into the hands of the corrupt. Hence, we need to clean up the Municipal Council.We have much more work to do. It has only been six months since we assumed office, and much remains to be done. While we have stabilized the economy, the next step is to achieve economic growth. We have allocated funds to facilitate business opportunities, promote self-employment, especially for women and youth, and develop community facilities. We are confident that these initiatives can be successfully implemented. Therefore, we urge you to elect and appoint a skilled team to the Municipal Council to continue this transformative journey.
The event was attended by Parliamentarian and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra, Hemanta Wijekoon, Colombo Mayoral Candidate Vraie Cally Balthazaar, and other candidates.
Prime Minister’s Media Division