Govt. not representing needs of people claims SJB

Dr. Harsha de Silva 

Kabir Hashim

Eran Wickramaratne

• Govt. must aim for 50% hair cut in external debt restructuring
• No plan for agricultural stability; farmers will lose out 
• Condemn attack on peaceful protestors by Govt.

By Darshana Abayasingha

The Main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday charged that the Government wasn’t representing the needs of the people whilst bungling macro-economic policies and reforms. 

At a media briefing, MP Kabir Hashim said the Government has drawn up plans to divest the profit-making Litro Gas Company, and by accordingly creating a duopoly without Government participation consumers could be facing a loss. Hashim says the sale of Litro could cause significant damage to the economy and therein. In addition, there is no transparency in the divestiture process which raises concern. The previous and current regime have bankrupted the economy and are now placing its full burden on the people, the SJB MP alleged. 

Hashim also claimed that the Government is aiming for a 20% to 30% haircut on international sovereign bonds. He said this was too little, and the Government must aim for at least 50%. Hashim said there are over $ 12 billion in ISBs, and a 50% discount would serve Sri Lanka well, and the SJB would work towards this target. 

SJB MP Dr. Harsha De Silva, said his party held discussions with the IMF. He noted the IMF views his party as a responsible opposition that represents the interest of the people and their economic futures. De Silva said the SJB wants to develop the Sri Lankan economy, and stated that the Opposition Leader had communicated to the IMF that his party would renegotiate the deal. 

De Silva said the Maha Season will yield a bumper harvest over 20 million metric tons. The annual rice requirement of the country is 24 million tons. However, with economic hardships people may not be able to afford to purchase the 20 million metric tons, and if the Government fails to purchase the paddy the farmers would be at the mercy of middle men, who would store the produce at cheap prices. De Silva said an SJB Government would work to invigorate the Small and Medium farmer through the Shakthi Rice Programme, and ensure a fixed price to both farmers and consumers. 

Commenting on Tuesday’s SJB protest campaign in Colombo, MP Eran Wickramaratne said the party had brought together Sri Lanka’s working class to protest the burgeoning cost of living, and the SJB had not violated any of the directives issued by court. He said the protest march had not moved into restricted areas, but the Government had still moved to attack them with tear gas and water cannons. 

The SJB is working for a system change. The people who converged in Colombo on Tuesday are those who are oppressed by the economic hardships imposed on them by the Government, and the people know that the SJB is the only movement that could get them out of this current mire. Anyone with a clear conscience is free to join the SJB and join us on our journey. We are ready to hold discussion with any party or persons who are aligned to our principles,” Wickramaratne said.