(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that he deeply appreciates the Sri Lankan expatriates, who are returning to the country, to support and vote for him at the forthcoming Presidential Election.
Rajapaksa, sharing a picture of a youth at the airport premises holding a poster stating that he returned to Sri Lanka from Italy to support the victory of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Tweeted in his official account, “I am honoured and deeply appreciate the patriotic Sri Lankans from across the globe, who are coming home by the hundreds to support and vote for me! It is testimony to the true Sri Lankan spirit which is alive, however far away from home they live”.
The SLPP candidate addressing a public rally in Gampaha on Saturday said, “We presented our manifesto with our strategy as to how we will strengthen national security, provide education and training to our youth, develop our economy, and how we will protect the environment. These strategies were prepared by intellectuals, experts, businessmen, and professionals. Through the Pilisandara programme that was conducted at the village level, we identified the issues of the general public and presented our program with practical solutions for these issues. I pledge to implement all of my plans during my tenure. When I attended public rallies in several areas and spoke to the locals, their only request was to save this country and protect it”.
Meanwhile, addressing a public rally in Kurunegala on Friday he said, “Today, there is a complex tax system set in place. It has been recommended that we remove this complex system and introduce a simplified system. Unnecessary taxes will be removed. Through this we intend to motivate businessmen engaged in these sectors, to increase production, to increase investment, to increase consumption and of course to strengthen the economy. That is when jobs will be created. That is when new businesses will be formed. State revenue will increase through that. Through a more simplified, transparent tax system, we can allow those engaged in the managing of taxes to also conduct their duties easier. We can also eradicate corruption which takes place within this complex tax system.”
