United National Party (UNP) Chairman Wajira Abeywardena declared that by the next Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Ranil Wickremesinghe will be the 10th Executive President of Sri Lanka, heading a new government.

Speaking at a public meeting in Galle on 29 April — also attended by former President Wickremesinghe — Abeywardena said the public must be extremely cautious when considering the statements made by the current government.

“Some people say there’s no issue because the government has a majority in Parliament. But we see things differently. I see how the country is being run by someone close to Ranil Wickremesinghe, and what’s clear is that the country is rapidly declining — and that decline can no longer be stopped,” he said.

He claimed that the current NPP administration lacks the experience and capability to manage the crisis.

“If things continue in this direction, I can say this with confidence — by next year’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year, there will be a new government in power. I wish to state clearly today that by then, the country will be governed by Executive President Ranil Wickremesinghe,” he added.