JVP leader warns over 1 m Lankans could lose jobs due to COVID-19

• Says recent surveys show thousands will lose jobs in industrial, construction and garment sectors
• Accuses Govt. of adding to people’s economic woes by increasing taxes while pursuing mega projects
• Says people have not received benefit of falling oil prices but are burdened with exorbitant water, electricity bills 

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday that around 1.1 million Sri Lankans could become unemployed as a result of the downturn in the economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and accused the Government of not doing enough to ease the economic burden on the public.

“Recent surveys show that in the industrial sector around 366,000 could lose jobs, while around 178,000 in the construction sector and around 200,000 in the garments sector, which includes contract workers, and others who have worked for less than six months in factories also face job losses,” Dissanayake told reporters at a press conference.

In addition to this, he said that people who are self-employed, be it vegetable vendors to salon owners to launderers, etc. will be unable to keep up their sources of income.

He said that while the people are faced with many economic burdens owing to the coronavirus, the Government is launching mega projects from cricket stadiums to highways. 

“They are going back to their old ways to get commissions. All these massive projects are approved by the Cabinet. The Treasury is empty, which is why the Government tried to get a days’ pay from public servants, which did not receive a favourable response. Then it went and overcharged people for water and electricity, and then imposed taxes on essential goods,” he said.

Dissanayake added that on 17 March, the Government announced a fixed price on lentils and canned fish, but within 40 days this was lifted, and now taxes have been imposed on many other essential items.

“The Government is trying to justify the tax increase saying it is done to encourage local produce, but this is a hackneyed excuse used by successive Governments to hoodwink the people,” Dissanayake said.

He said the public have also not been given the benefit of the drop in world oil prices and continue to pay the same taxes on petrol and diesel.

“If fuel prices are reduced, it will result in prices of all essential goods also coming down in price, of public transport costs, as we help farmers and fishermen,” he said.

The JVP leader added that this Government is one that was set up on lies and thrives on lies. “When the Government did not have money to give the Rs. 5,000 allowance to the people, it blamed the Election Commissioner and stopped the payment. The people must be aware of these lies,” he added.