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Main contenders’ manifestos released with pledges to fight corruption and provide relief
View(s):By Chandani Kirinde
The three main contenders in the upcoming presidential election, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, released their election manifestos this week with promises of relief for the poor, lower taxes, higher wages, more employment, and a clampdown on corruption.
The SJB and the NPP also detailed their own plans to take the IMF programme forward and do more to ensure safeguards for the vulnerable sections of the population that are suffering under the measures introduced by the current government under the programme.
The President, under his policy statement for “Five triumphant years for Sri Lanka with Ranil,” vowed to continue to build upon the economic stability that has been achieved with the IMF programme but ease tax burdens on the public and bring down the cost of living.
The NPP leader released his manifesto titled “A thriving nation, a beautiful life” on Monday, the first of the three main candidates to do so. President Wickremesinghe, who is contesting as an independent candidate, released his manifesto tilted “Puluwan Sri Lanka” on Thursday in Colombo, while the SJB leader’s manifesto tilted “A Win for All” was released in Kandy the same day; its first copies were handed over to the Maha Nayaka Theras of the Asgiriya and Malwatta chapters.
Presidential candidates Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake presenting copies of their manifesto to the clergy. Pix by Eshan Fernando, Akila Jayawardena and Priyanka Samaraweera
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Prison Affairs & Constitutional Reform Ali Sabry, who addressed the media after the launch of the President’s manifesto, said the “Puluwan Sri Lanka” document is not a fairy tale and is structured around five main components, namely a Theravada trade economy, operation beyond 2025, towards a prosperous nation, a win for the motherland, and a united Sri Lanka.
“This manifesto clearly outlines how each component will be implemented. It specifies that nothing mentioned here is unachievable. Instead, it focusses on continuing the progress we have made over the past two years. Our goal is to advance the stability we have achieved,” Mr. Sabry said.
SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne, who was among those involved in the team that drafted the SJB leader’s manifesto, said the document had taken about two years to prepare with several groups of academics and professionals involved in the process.
“What we want to have is a social democracy. We certainly believe in the market, but we have a responsibility for the vulnerable and the low-income groups,” he told the Sunday Times.
He said the manifesto has been drafted in the backdrop of the economic crises faced by the country, because of which there is an IMF programme in place.
“The IMF programme is necessary because it signals to the market that a country which has been undisciplined in economic and fiscal management is going to exercise some discipline, so that is important. With it, we can go from no rating to getting back to the rating sphere. However, the problematic side of it is that some of the benchmarks have been achieved at a tremendous cost, pushing up food prices and pushing millions down the poverty line,” he said.
All three candidates have promised tax cuts for middle-income groups, with the NPP stating that it will increase the monthly personal tax exemption limit to Rs. 200,000 and reduce VAT on essential items, while the SJB says it will adjust the tax rates and lower them than at present, reducing VAT to 15% from the current rate of 18% once tax compliance improves with zero VAT on essential goods and consumables.
The ”Puluwan Sri Lanka” plan also promises to revisit the tax conditions that have come with the IMF programme, reduce some of the taxes, and systematically abolish indirect taxes.
Both the SJB and the NPP have also pledged to abolish the executive presidency and enact a new constitution. The SJB says it hopes to convert the present system to a parliamentary system with maximum devolution based on the 13th Amendment under one country, while the NPP pledges to introduce a new constitution that fosters national unity and strengthens democracy in Sri Lanka.
In the President’s manifesto, he says the new Parliament will need to decide whether or not to abolish the Executive Presidency, while the Legislature will also be responsible for drafting a new Constitution within a year after the next general election to be held following the presidential election.
On foreign policy, the NPP said it would restructure Sri Lanka’s network of foreign missions and staff numbers following a comprehensive review and would prevent the use of Sri Lanka’s land, sea, or airspace that threatens regional security.
The SJB said its foreign policy vision is to be friends with all and enemies of none, and toward this end it will maintain peaceful coexistence with immediate and regional neighbours devoid of military alliances while promoting rule-based order in the Indian ocean, ensuring the best interest of the population of the Indian ocean region.
All three candidates also promised relief for those living under the poverty line, with State Minister of Fiancé Shehan Semasinhe stating that the government would continue with the “Aswesuma” programme to provide relief to the poor and vulnerable in the country. “Through this programme, extremely poor families receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 15,000. The government has allocated Rs. 205 billion to support 2.4 million families across three categories. Currently, 1.8 million families are benefiting from this programme, with no political interference in the distribution process,” Mr. Semasisngeh told reporters after the launch of the President’s manifesto.
The SJB said it would draw from the experiences of several mechanisms that have been used to provide welfare for the needy, such as Jana Saviya and Aswesuma. The new programe will provide a monthly allowance of Rs. 20,000 for up to 24 months to beneficiary families.
The NPP said it would increase monthly allowance for low-income families starting from a minimum of Rs. 10,000.
All three candidates also promised to clamp down on corruption with programmes to recover stolen assets and swift action against those involved in financial crimes, bribery, and corruption. The SJB and the NPP also promised to appoint an independent public prosecutor to investigate corruption.
Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, who explained the NPP manifesto, emphasised that corruption is the biggest hurdle that stands in the way of development in the country and vowed to eliminate such hurdles when in power.
“Every cent of taxpayer money will be accounted for, and a transparent process for people to see where their money is being spent will be put in place. We will create a country where no one is above law. Politicians will not be allowed to get away with impunity,” he said.
The President also pledged full commitment to eradicating corruption and strengthening the existing anti-corruption laws on financial crime and money laundering regulations.
The SJB and the NPP also promised new investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks. The SJB said it would establish a Commission of Inquiry within three months under Section 2(1)(c) of the Commission of Inquiry Act No. 17 of 1948 to deliver justice to the victims of the bomb attacks, and based on the commission’s recommendations, those responsible will be prosecuted through a High Court at Bar, with daily hearings being a priority of the government.
The NPP also pledged to expedite investigations into the attacks and ensure the accused face legal action and pursue offenders in the fundamental rights case as recommended in the Presidential Commission.
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