UNP ready for elections: PM at May Day rally

May 02, 2017 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's Prime Minister and United National Party Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said that they were ready for any election and would form the next Government. “Looking at these huge crowds, I can say that the UNP is ready for any challenge, any election,” said the Premier addressing the party's May Day rally at Campbell Park in Colombo, Monday. The announcement comes following several senior Sri Lanka Freedom Party members claiming in the last few weeks that they will decide the future plight of the ruling coalition government. Wickremesinghe said that President Maithripala Sirisena's win in January 2015 was a great achievement that paved the way for the two leading political parties to come together and form a government for the good of the people. “What we did was stabilise the bankrupt economy that was given to us in 2015. Now we will not allow anyone to stop the country’s forward march to create jobs, income for the people,” "The trade concession that the country received via GSP+ will create 6,600 additional imports to Europe." We are looking at making Sri Lanka a central point for sea and air travel to help boost the tourist industry of the country, he added. Retreating the PM's statements the UNP's General Secretary Hashim who also addressed the crowds gathered said there was no threat to the coalition Government. "The UNP is ready to face any election at any time and we will establish a Government by 2020 or earlier."