Sri Lanka's newly-elected President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday said his government is preparing a national economic policy for the next 25 years to transform the crisis-hit country into a modern and competitive export economy.
Presenting his government's policy statement during the third session of Parliament, President Wickremesinghe once again invited the political parties to form an all-party government to overcome the current economic crisis as the House reconvened after a seven-day adjournment.
“I took over a country that was in disaster. Severe economic crisis on one side, massive public opposition on the other,” said Wickremesinghe, who was elected President by lawmakers on July 20 - the first such occasion since 1978.
The 73-year-old President was appointed for the rest of the term of Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled the country and resigned on July 13 in the face of a popular uprising against his government for mismanaging the island nation's economy.
“Today, we are facing an unprecedented situation that our country has never faced in recent history. We are in great danger. The country could extricate and be secured from that danger, only if we all face this challenge together as one people,” he said, urging political parties to form an all-party government.
“I once again request all parties representing the people in this Parliament to unite in the formation of an All-Party Government. I respectfully extend the hand of friendship to all of you,” he said.