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| Sunday, 18 September 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Second bid
for Presidency
by Ananda Kannangara
The signing of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) with the LTTE in 2002 is the greatest achievement of Opposition Leader and UNP Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as Prime Minister then. The consensus of opinion is that the CFA largely benefited the country's economy, since it helped to end the 20-year old Northern conflict to a great extent. It also paved the way to resume talks with the LTTE. The importance of signing the CFA was also endorsed by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on various occasions. Born on March 24, 1949, Ranil Wickremesinghe had his education throughout at Royal College, Colombo. He is the grandson of the late D. R. Wijewardene (DRW) and Nalini nee Wickremesinghe, daughter of DRW and Esmond Wickremesinghe. After completing his higher education at the Royal, Wickremesinghe entered the University of Ceylon and obtained the LLB degree. Later on he passed out as a lawyer from the Law College and practised in the unofficial Bar for a short period. Ranil Wickremesinghe's love for politics was like that of his uncle, the country's first Executive President J. R. Jayewardene. The latter too gave up a legal career with the objective of serving the people. Wickremesinghe entered parliament in 1977 after contesting the Biyagama seat at the young age of 28. The then President J. R. Jayewardene recognised his youthful abilities and appointed him as the Youth and Employment Minister, fully confident that he could do a good job for the youth in the country. During his tenure the one objective he had was by giving pride of place to the youth. He generated new employment avenues under the guidance of President Jayewardene in order to uplift the livelihood of the youth. Apart from the Youth and Employment Ministerial portfolio, during his near 30-year political career, Ranil Wickremesinghe has held a number of other portfolios such as Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Science and Technology Minister and Industries Minister. He pioneered the establishment of investment promotion zones, which created employment opportunities for the urban and rural youth. The National Youth Service Council was also set up in Maharagama to enable the youth population to develop their creative abilities. When Ranil Wickremesinghe became Prime Minister in early 2002, he had in the back of his mind to end the 20- year old Northern war, which many Presidents and Prime Ministers in the past tried on several occasions, but failed. The Cease Fire Agreement (CFA), signed with the LTTE paved the way for the Southern people, especially the traders to visit the North and vice versa. He was also highly admired for his open economy policy which was operative from the time of President Jayewardene. He strove to develop the country's agricultural sector, highways, trade and the industrial sector by taking examples from other countries like Singapore. The 'Regaining Sri Lanka' concept, was the theme of Ranil Wickremesinghe's election campaign in 2002. It was a medium term poverty-reduction program. Wickremesinghe took up the challenge to establish various industrial projects in the country under the 'Regaining Sri Lanka' program while developing the country's agricultural sector as well. But he was unable to fulfil his obligations and carry out his task properly due to the unexpected dissolution of Parliament. Before Parliament was dissolved, three major ministries of the Wickremesinghe government were taken over by President Chandrika Kumaratunga. This move thoroughly weakened the Wickremesinghe government and eventually President Kumaratunga was compelled to dissolve Parliament. |
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