Sajith pledges to restore the dignity of poverty stricken people and the working class

The New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa launched his election campaign at the Galle Face Green on Thursday, with his main pledges being to implement widespread measures to uplift the lives of the people living in rural areas and the working class.

The ruling United National Party (UNP) and the United National Front are a part of the NDF. Prime Minister and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and leaders of other political parties were present at the massive inaugural rally. They included the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) leader Champika Ranawaka, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauf Hakeem, All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Rishard Bathiudeen, National Workers Front (NFW) leader and minister Palani Digambaram, National Democratic Front (NDF) leader and minister Mano Ganesan and Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF) leader and state minister V. Radhakrishnan Krishnan.

Party supporters from all parts of the country took part with most of the buses coming from the Sabaragamuwa, Uva and Southern provinces. There was also a large crowd from Colombo and the Western province.

There were helium balloons decorated with the NDF swan symbol and coloured balloons released regularly while popular singer Rukantha Gunatillake, the UNP Damabadeniya organiser, sang for the people.

Mr Premadasa pledged he would serve the people without considering race, religion, cast, party or their social status.

He also apologised to the clergy and people for mistakenly using the term "Sri Mukaya," he said that he wanted to publicly apologise to the people at the event.

"Our plan is develop the country as never before, we want to create a transformative age. We promise that we will not allow corruption and fraud, we will not give state property to outsiders. The government that we form will be clean, honest, transparent and accountable to the people. It will be a clean government," he said.