Ranil raises red flag on food shortage by April

Wednesday, 29 December 2021 02:31 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

UNP Leader MP Ranil Wickremesinghe

Says harvest has dropped by 60% compared to 2020
Calls on Govt. to conclude talks with India, to obtain fuel and oil given the dire economic straits
Opines credit facilities will not resolve escalating foreign exchange crisis
Warns on resentment of public and adverse impacts on Govt., P’ment
Stresses urgent solutions to overcome economic woes prudently
Reiterates to reach out to IMF or present acceptable alternative
Affirms further delay to find provisions will spin situation out of control

UNP Leader MP Ranil Wickreme-singhe yesterday said shortage of foreign exchange had resulted in a serious economic woe, where the public no longer can bear the rising cost of living burden amidst a looming food shortage in the country.

“As per our projections, a food shortage is likely to occur around the time of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year,” he said, adding that harvest of this year will had dropped by 60% compared to a year earlier.

Wickremesinghe called on the Government to soon conclude its discussions and agreements with India to obtain fuel and food on credit as a temporary reprieve, given the dire straits of the economy.

However, the former Prime Minister said that obtaining loans and goods on credit will not resolve the country’s escalating foreign exchange crisis.

He also warned against resentment of the general public which could have adverse impacts on the Government as well as the Parliament, whilst calling for the prevention of such a situation to develop the country.

Explaining that the economy had been pushed towards a deteriorating businesses climate where unemployment rate has risen, middle-class has slumped and farmers left stranded, Wickremesinghe stressed that urgent solutions are required to overcome the situation more prudently.

“The Government has a responsibility to reach out to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for aid or else they should present an acceptable alternative. However, both those options have not been explored yet,” he claimed.

The former Prime Minister also pointed out that COVID-19 cannot be blamed for the current economic status, adding that other countries have shown resilience and have brought their economies forward amidst pandemic-challenges, insisting that same must be executed in Sri Lanka.

“Further delay to find provisions will otherwise spin situation out of control,» Wickremesinghe cautioned.

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