Sri Lanka’s Opposition leader, who is seeking the presidency next week, vowed Friday to “listen to the people” who are struggling through the island nation’s worst economic crisis and to hold accountable the President.
In an interview with The Associated Press from his office in the capital, Sajith Premadasa said that if he wins the election in parliament, he would ensure that “an elective dictatorship never, ever occurs” in Sri Lanka. “That’s what we should do. That is our function — catching those who looted Sri Lanka. That should be done through proper constitutional, legal, democratic procedures,” Premadasa said. The former President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, slipped away aboard a military plane on Wednesday before arriving in Singapore the following day.
“We have to strengthen Sri Lanka’s position in the anti-corruption index. We have to strengthen Sri Lanka’s position in the good governance index. We have to make sure that we establish structures which promote transparent, accountable and responsible government,” Premadasa said.
He said his Samagi Jana Balawegaya party unanimously supported him as the presidential nominee for the election on July 20, when all 225 members of the parliament will vote to elect a new President. But he admitted that he faces a tough task in securing the support needed to succeed since the majority in parliament is still held by Rajapaksa’s party.