Minister of Agriculture K.D. Lal Kantha has stated that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa lacks a clear, inclusive philosophy for governance, offering only well-wishes on birthdays and maintaining society in a different manner. In contrast, he asserted that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has a distinct worldview, rooted in neoliberalism, which continues to shape his approach.

Speaking at an event, Lal Kantha discussed the public sector’s increasing burden on the country and explained that Ranil Wickremesinghe has long been a proponent of reducing government interference in businesses and enterprises.

“From J.R. Jayewardene to Premadasa, to Chandrika Kumaratunga, and continuing with Ranil, this is how Ranil’s ‘Millennium Sri Lanka’ reforms took shape. This shift towards neoliberalism is what we’re witnessing now. Ranil was the first politician in Sri Lanka to openly embrace neoliberalism,” he remarked. “He is the knowledgeable figure in this area.”

Lal Kantha also criticized the principle of direct government employment, advocating instead for the state to facilitate job creation in the private sector. He lamented the inefficiency and overstaffing in the public sector, likening it to the excessive bureaucracy that contributed to the fall of ancient Rome.

The Minister called for a gradual shift towards privatization in Sri Lanka, while also acknowledging the government’s efforts to curb corruption and inefficiency. He praised the current political leadership’s commitment to tackling these issues but noted that reforms in the public sector are still ongoing.

“The government has stopped corruption, from the President to the MPs. However, the public sector must be reformed, and we will change that system slowly but steadily,” Lal Kantha concluded.