Matale District Member of Parliament Rohini Kaviratne made a passionate appeal to voters on September 11, 2024, during a rally in Polonnaruwa, urging them to support Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming presidential election. She stated that the opportunity had finally arrived for the country to elect Premadasa and save both the nation and its people from further decline. Kaviratne criticized the current leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe and Namal Rajapaksa, warning voters that casting their votes for these leaders would be like “jumping into a pile of fire.”
Kaviratne reminded the audience of the disastrous consequences of electing Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2019, a decision she said was made despite warnings that his lack of economic expertise would drive the country into ruin. “We told you in 2019 that if Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who knows nothing about the economy, is given power, the country will collapse. And look where we are now—15 years of progress thrown away,” she emphasized.
The MP also strongly opposed the idea of giving power to Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), whom she claimed lacked the necessary understanding of the country’s economy and foreign relations. Kaviratne argued that if Dissanayake came to power, Sri Lanka would immediately face economic isolation. She pointed out that under JVP rule, Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring plans, including the critical Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA), would be derailed. This, she said, would result in the country losing out on $700 million from the IMF, which is due in December, as well as loans and assistance from multilateral institutions like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
She also warned that the JVP’s policies would further devalue the Sri Lankan rupee, predicting that the exchange rate could reach between Rs. 390 and Rs. 415 per dollar by January 2025. “The situation will worsen, with tourist arrivals decreasing, and as Ranil’s government fails to issue passports, the flow of foreign remittances will plummet,” she said, highlighting the detrimental effect this would have on families relying on income from abroad.
Kaviratne also raised concerns about Sri Lanka’s ability to meet its debt obligations. She noted that while $600 million had already been paid this year, the country still owed $525 million by April 2025. If Anura Kumara’s administration took over, she predicted that Sri Lanka would default on these payments, pushing the country deeper into economic chaos.
Regarding the promises in Dissanayake’s manifesto, Kaviratne estimated that the JVP’s proposed policies would cost at least Rs. 2000 billion, which would lead to an unsustainable budget deficit. She further argued that the JVP had no viable plan to generate such a large amount of revenue. “They talk about tax cuts and relief, but where will the money come from? How will they fund fuel, fertilizer, and medicine imports? Inflation will rise again, hitting 20%-22% by February.”
Kaviratne also reminded the audience of the consequences of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s economic policies, pointing out that essential items such as powdered milk and basic household goods had seen dramatic price increases. “Remember, after Gotabaya’s disastrous policies, the price of a packet of milk powder tripled, and people had to pay Rs. 10,000 just to get one.”
She further warned that if the JVP came to power, Sri Lanka’s relationships with key allies like India and Bangladesh could deteriorate, cutting off vital support and aid. “Countries like India and Bangladesh, which helped us during our crisis, will not even look at us again if Anura Kumara takes over. We will become isolated like Bangladesh and the Maldives, which are already struggling.”
In her closing remarks, Kaviratne urged the public not to vote for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) or the United National Party (UNP), as this would only prolong the country’s suffering under leaders like Namal Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe. She declared that Sajith Premadasa was the only candidate capable of steering Sri Lanka away from the brink of disaster.
“Do not jump into the fire by voting for Pohottuwa and Namal, and do not sacrifice yourselves by voting for Ranil. Only Sajith Premadasa can win this election and save the country. The solution is clear—vote for Sajith to protect yourselves, the nation, and the future of Sri Lanka,” she concluded, rallying the crowd to support the United People’s Force in the upcoming election.
