Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe resolves to step down, commends both who praised and criticized him

COLOMBO(News 1st) - Ranil Wickremesinghe has decided to resign from his position as Prime Minister. He made a special statement in this regard: "During the past 5 years, we worked towards ensuring democracy, freedom of the people, freedom of speech, right to information, equality and harmony in this nation. We also paved the way towards sustainable development in this country. Through the 19th amendment to the constitution, we freed all institutions from politicization. The Presidential election being conducted in a peaceful and fair manner was also an outcome of our tenure. The future will give the right judgment of our actions. I met with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday. We spoke on parliament's future course of action. Even though we have the majority in the parliament, we have decided to respect the public mandate that was given to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and gives him a way to establish a government that would work with him towards the development of this nation. I commend democracy. I respect democracy. I will work democratically. According to that, I have decided to step down as the Prime Minister and give way to the President to form a government that would work in par with his plan.  I will officially communicate this to President Rajapaksa tomorrow (November 21). During the time I was Prime Minister, I was praised. At the same time, I was insulted. I heard good as well as bad. I thank everyone who praised me, insulted me, said good about me and said bad about me. I express my gratitude towards everyone who worked with me. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his statement, notes that he values democracy respects democracy and acts democratically. He says that he is resigning from the post of the Prime Ministership, because of democracy. The question on everyone’s mind is this: Where is Ranil Wickremesinghe’s democracy when it comes to his own party? Having led his party to defeat upon defeat; having reduced his parties voter-base to record lows; having dismantled the strong grass-roots network that made the UNP a ferocious contender in any election, he still refuses to leave and hand over the mantle of the party leadership to the younger, more capable and popular generation of leaders. One cannot forget the fact that while Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected to end corruption, it was during his tenure that the biggest corruption scandal of all, was exposed. What’s more, while Ranil Wickremesinghe has held the post of Prime Minister on five occasions, he has never completed a single one of those terms! Each and every time he has been handed over the responsibility of shepherding our nation, he has ended up handing it over, on a platter, to another party or another individual. And yet, he retains his own position within the UNP either as Prime Minister or as Opposition Leader. Since Ranil Wickremesinghe says he believes in democracy, he would then accept that the cornerstone of a vibrant democratic system is a strong opposition in parliament. Without a strong opposition, nepotism, corruption and even totalitarianism can take hold of the nation. It is time, Mr. Wickremesinghe that even though you may not have a conscience that answers to the people of Sri Lanka, that perhaps you at least then think of your own legacy, and step down as Leader of the UNP and allow this grand old party to rebuild itself and play its role as one of the two main parties in the Sri Lankan political democracy. Your plan to end up as Opposition Leader of a depleted UNP in parliament will serve nobody but you and your cronies. Enough is enough Mr. Wickremesinghe. Please, step down as the Leader of the UNP!