President insists he is not a dictator
President Ranil Wickremesinghe insisted that he is not a dictator and that he has taken steps to protect democracy.
Speaking at the United National Party (UNP) May Day rally in Colombo, Wickremesinghe said that he has allowed all the political parties to stage May Day rallies across the country.
He said that such freedom was not seen two years ago, adding that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa was even assaulted at Galle Face during the mass protests.
Wickremesinghe said he became Prime Minister after the mass protests as the political system in Sri Lanka collapsed.
He said that Sajith Premadasa was offered the Prime Minister post in 2022 but he turned it down.
The President said that the economy in Sri Lanka has now improved and Sri Lanka’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) must be protected.
He also invited the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the National Peoples Power to join hands with the Government to take the country forward. (Colombo Gazette)