ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka opposition leader Sajith Premadasa strongly expressed his discontent at those who criticize him and his policies in social media and accused such critics of defeating him in the 2019 presidential polls against ousted president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Premadasa is facing increased social media criticism over his speeches and policies since his party has started campaigning for March 9 Local Government polls.
He was criticized by social media users this week for his criticism over President Ranil Wickremesinghe government bending to implement all the requests by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $2.9 billion loan.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Matale district on Thursday, Premadasa said he and his polices are mocked by a small group of people through social media. He said some of his comments in 2019 were posted after using only certain parts of the speech.
“During the presidential elections, the social media personas cut the (speech) part I was going to the footsteps of the public and mocked us which led to the win of Gotabaya,” Premadasa, the opposition leader and the chief of center-right Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) told the gathering at a election campaign meeting.
“The result of it is country is bankrupted, no money in the hands of people. People are skipping food,
everywhere poverty is emerging,” he said referring to the wrong economic policies by former leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was later ousted due to strong public protests in July last year. Ranil Wickremesinghe became the president through a parliament vote.
“A minority of the country who does not know our proposals have started mocking us via hypocritical
social media practices likewise they did in the 2019 presidential elections,” Premadasa said referring to the latest criticism over his party policies which he had been explaining to the public.
Teaming against own leader
Premadasa, 56-year old son of slain former president Ranasinghe Premadasa, split with the current President Wickremesinghe’s center-right United National Party (UNP) before the 2020 parliament polls and became the second largest party in the parliament with 54 seats in 225-member parliament.
President Wickremesinghe’s UNP won only one seat through a wildcard method. Wickremesinghe himself lost the election, though he became a legislator through the only one seat his party got.
Premadasa who has been in the parliament since 2000 is considered to become a strong candidate in the next presidential election. His party as well as some political analysts believe that the SJB has an opportunity to win the upcoming local government polls by a landslide if the polls take place as scheduled.
He has stated that a government under his party will not oblige to back the ongoing IMF deal or any other international deals because President Wickremesinghe and the current government have no mandate to sign such agreements.
His comments drew strong criticism in social media.
“Honestly, they are playing to the ignorant masses and I find this so infuriating,” a tweep said responding to Premadasa’s IMF criticism.
“Seriously, can’t you politicians see beyond the next election?” another tweep questioned.
“Sad to see still planning the same old cheap politics. Proves that these idiots will never change.”
Premadasa has also proposed ‘Sister city project’ to develop each local government bodies in the country, which also was criticized by social media users by sharing negative posts on the proposal. He said those who are unable to keep their election promises only mock him via social media.
“These are new proposals. The rival parties are scared of these proposals. So they take a few
words from what I say and make posts out of them. It is the incapable ones who keep on mocking our proposals on social media platforms,” he said.
“We are going to implement rooftop solar projects for every local government if the SJB wins.
Unfortunately, social media is mocking those projects as well. There are strange cattle (puduma
harak) on these social media platforms.”
“The millions of money owned by political parties are utilized for social media promotions. It was done in 2019 and they are going to fool the people in 2023 as well.
I should say one thing: we don’t spend millions of money on social media, we have sacrificed millions of money only for the education of school children and the health sector.” (Colombo/Feb03/2023)
Though we get IMF funds we will be a bankrupt country for years till we start to pay back our debts. So, what is the real meaning of IMF funds? Up to now, we have had no plan to boost our exports. Where are we going to implement this money? If we get more loans for day-to-day expenses, we will be surely like Argentine a bankrupt country for years and years.