We are paying for fiscal sins of Rajapaksa regime: Ravi K

FinanceMinister Ravi Karunanayake addresses a media briefing. Buddha Sasana Minister Karu Jayasuriya is also present - Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

By Chamodi Gunawardana

FinanceMinister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday claimed that the Government had to pay back Rs. 305 billion of the budget deficit created by the previous Rajapaksa administration. 

Karunanayake said that the Government had gotten a mandate to overcome these financial and social matters which had affected the country during last several years.

“Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal have made losses and we should erase those deficits. Some conspirators who back Rajapaksa try to put the blame on us. However, we do not want to put the burden on the general public so we try our best to fill these financial gaps,” Karunanayake said. 

He also stated that nobody could defeat the Government by passing no-confidence motions against it.

“The majority Opposition wants to impede our progress but they could not. They brought forward a number of no-faith motions against us. However, I am always ready for any public debate and I accept the request made by Bandula Gunawardena for a TV debate. It is scheduled for 5 July,” Karunanayake revealed.