Former Minister Harin Fernando has raised concerns about a strategic adjustment in President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s campaign schedule, alleging that the number of planned public rallies has been reduced from 92 to 84. Fernando’s comments come amid accusations by MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, who claimed that more than 30 of the President’s rallies were canceled due to insufficient public interest.
Fernando suggests that the reduction in rallies is part of a deliberate strategy to enhance the effectiveness of the campaign. According to him, the campaign team decided to reallocate resources towards more focused and impactful engagements, such as face-to-face meetings with professional and interest groups. This shift, he argues, is intended to optimize the use of campaign resources and better target influential stakeholders.
The former minister highlighted that, despite the decrease in public rallies, the President’s team has managed to conduct approximately 200 meetings with various professional forums and groups. Fernando emphasized that this approach is aimed at building stronger connections with key stakeholders and addressing specific issues in more detail.
Fernando’s statement also comes in the wake of criticism regarding the effectiveness of the President’s public outreach efforts. By reducing the number of large-scale rallies and focusing on smaller, targeted meetings, the campaign seeks to leverage its resources more efficiently and potentially improve the President’s engagement with crucial voter segments.
This strategic shift is seen as an attempt to counteract negative perceptions and strengthen the President’s position as the campaign progresses. The decision reflects a broader trend in modern political campaigns where targeted engagement and efficient use of resources are prioritized over traditional large-scale rallies.
