Marikkar castigates Govt. for leading country to economic, health crises

Main Opposition SJB Parliamentarian S.K. Marikkar yesterday castigated the Government for leading the country to economic and health crises due to sheer mismanagement and mixed-up priorities. 

Speaking in Parliament, the MP said that State Minister MP Nivard Cabraal can only offer up the previous regime and the pandemic as excuses for the current crisis in the country. 

“However, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been in office for 21 months and the new Government and Parliament is 12 months old. But what has the Government done after promising development by bringing in progressive policies and experts? Indeed, the country is facing a severe economic crisis with all key sectors crippled,” Marrikar charged.  

Expanding on the crisis, he said all key sources of foreign exchange earnings – tourism, workers remittances, exports and FDI were crippled. 

“Due to COVID, the tourism industry has collapsed, thereby losing $ 4 billion in earnings. Export earnings however have continued with $ 10.4 billion in 2020, and by restricting imports, there has been a saving of over $ 500 million and the trade deficit has reduced. Workers’ remittances last year amounted to $ 7 billion. However, why is Sri Lanka facing a foreign exchange crisis? This is because of sheer mismanagement and mixed-up priorities, such as grandiose elevated highways and sale or lease of land to Chinese,” charged the SJB MP. 

Marikkar said that Government must be innovative in drawing tourists. 

“For example, Malaysia offers a 10-year resident visa if foreigners bring in $ 100,000. Why can’t the Government offer a similar scheme for Europeans, especially during the winter season, and draw more tourists for long-term stay. We could look at offering a 5-year resident visa if foreigners bring in $ 50,000,” he said. 

It was pointed out that keeping borders open for tourism wasn’t enough as the cost of operating to Sri Lanka, such as landing and parking fees, are high for airlines. 

“The Government needs to offer waivers, but it hasn’t. There is no proper plan to boost earnings from tourism to $ 8 or $ 10 billion in the future. Such a strategy hasn’t been explained in Parliament either. To boost worker remittances to $ 10 billion, there is no planned effort to enhance skilled workforce,” Marikkar explained. 

He also said of the 2020 exports, there had been $ 2.3 billion in agriculture exports. However, this momentum has been impacted with the ban of chemical fertilisers. The $ 2.3 billion export agriculture sector only uses $ 100 million worth of fertiliser, hence banning chemical fertiliser doesn’t make any sense. 

He also alleged that due to doctorial and anti-democratic policies and practices of the Government, Sri Lanka stands to lose the GSP+ benefits for exports, including apparel to the European Union. 

“A big apparel exporter – Bangladesh – has developed to a stage where it is offering soft loans to Sri Lanka. This impacts Sri Lanka’s brand strength in overseas markets,” opined Marikkar. 

“We also don’t see a conscious effort to boost FDI but opting for shortcuts to turn black money to white via the highly questionable tax amnesty. To draw more FDI, the ease of doing business index must be improved, but there is no planned strategy. There is a serious loss of investor and business confidence.”

He also alleged that instead of boosting foreign reserves, the Government is accelerating money printing. 

“The Government needs to be honest rather than risking people’s lives and the economy at more risk.”

Marrikar also raised the issue of social media video footage showing COVID patients on the lawn of Kalubowila hospital. 

“Minister Namal Rajapaksa, some time back, promised 10,000 hospital beds in 10 days. But today, the sad situation is two patients on one bed as well as on the lawns and corridors. It’s the same with Ragama and De Zoysa Children’s Hospital,” Marikkar added. 

“Our COVID situation is worse than India on a per capita basis whilst the Government has also reduced the number of PCR tests. The Government is risking innocent people’s lives after claiming ‘we did it best’,” SJB MP said. 

He said that when the Opposition inquired from the Government last year whether they had imported sufficient masks the response was it was not necessary. When asked about ordering vaccines on time the answer was the country has developed indigenous cures, he added.

“After late realisation, the Government has fast-tracked vaccination, which is commendable, but the delay has risked precious lives and health of thousands,” Marikkar told the Parliament.