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Sunday Dec 15, 2024
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In a major move 11 constituent parties of the Government yesterday joined hands against the fumbling of the Rajapaksa leadership and urged for early resolution of five crises to thereby usher real economic development for people.
The five crises listed included depleting foreign reserves, foreign debt servicing, loss of Government revenue, economic mismanagement and worsening economic crisis, collapse of agriculture and local industries.
Top Cabinet Ministers Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Wasudeva Nanayakkara, former President and MP Maithripala Sirisena, State Ministers Dayasiri Jayasekara and Lasantha Alagiyawanna, MPs and Members of Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), Democratic Left Front (DLF), Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL), National Congress, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) were among several dissenting voices who attended the landmark joint meeting.
The 11 parties issued a statement titled “Mulu Ratama Hari Magata” (Entire country on the right path) outlining remedies for the on-going multiple crises.
Former President and Sri Lanka Freedoms Party (SLFP) Leader Sirisena called on all political parties representing the Parliament to unite to build a mechanism which is a flexible and fair program to put the economy back on track.
“It is time we unite irrespective of all differences to ensure that the Government will prioritise its real economic developments to ensure stability,” he said.
He also pointed out that it was time for the Government to reflect within, noting that people are distressed over the economic direction.
“Today, all 11 constituent parties of the Government are in this forum because we never got a platform to express our views and get involved in the administration over the past two years. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) was formulated with the support of many parties during the last election, but since then it was not called for a meeting at least once,” Sirisena claimed.
National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader and Industries Minister Weerwansa blasted the Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa for not seeking sound economic advice, including the Central Bank Governor.
“You cannot solve every issue with an egoistic attitude. Sometimes, you need to seek expert advice, in unprecedented situations. The Central Bank Governor said he had sent nine letters within the past six months outlining economic measures that should be taken to avoid a crisis. However, the Finance Minister had not even acknowledged them or had time for a meeting with the Central Bank Governor to discuss them,” he said.
Weerawansa said the ignorance of the Finance Minister could either be attributed to his stupidity or he deliberately wanted the crisis to be advanced to a disaster.
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader and Energy Minister Gammanpila said the country is facing the consequences of the Government being blind in identifying and implementing its priorities.
“On Wednesday, the Treasury Secretary announced that he was preparing to issue a Gazette which would stop 600 non-essential imports to the country. It’s too late, but we can be happy as it is better late than never,” he quipped.
Our Power of People Party MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero also said that it was time that the public took charge of the country.
