UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena stated today (31) that the people made their choice by electing the ‘inexperienced’ National People’s Power (NPP) as their government, and now they are facing the consequences.

Speaking to the media in Galle, Abeywardena said that despite this, the UNP, led by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and an experienced team, is actively considering strategies to support the people during the difficult times created by the current government.

“The public has been under immense pressure. There is a shortage of rice in the country, and crops are being damaged by wild animals. In the end, the entire nation will suffer from these challenges. Therefore, the UNP is now focusing on how to address these issues,” he said.

“It’s not just these two problems—gaining experience takes time. For example, when someone joins the hotel industry, they must first undergo training with the Apprenticeship Board. Even after being hired, they still need to learn practical skills, like how to prepare a hotel room or set a dining table. Only when they excel in these tasks are they hired permanently.”

“This is the reality of the society we live in, where the responsibility of an entire nation has been entrusted to an inexperienced faction. Now, the people are facing the consequences. There is nothing else to be done. I see this as a major management issue. That’s why the 8th Executive President (Wickremesinghe) repeatedly cautioned against making mistakes and emphasized the need for experienced leaders to guide the country forward.”

Abeywardena continued, “But the public did not heed our warnings. It doesn’t matter now. What’s important is that Ranil Wickremesinghe understands this reality. When he stepped down from the presidency, he made it clear that, regardless of his position or power, if Sri Lanka faced any trouble, he would stand ready to help whenever the opportunity arose.”