Wednesday Dec 25, 2024
Wednesday Dec 25, 2024
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UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing Parliament
By Chandani Kirinde
United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who took oaths as a MP yesterday, kicked off a fresh term in Parliament highlighting the Government’s purported mistakes and failures in dealing with the twin crises of COVID-19 and a collapsing economy.
Focusing on COVID-19, Wickremesinghe said that the responsibility of dealing with the pandemic must rest with the Cabinet of Ministers and not the task force headed by the Army Commander.
“Constitutionally, all the powers must be with the Cabinet. The COVID-19 Task Force is a complete failure. We cannot go forward with this task force. The Prime Minister must take the powers into his hands and deal with the situation along with the Cabinet,” Wickremesinghe said.
He said that the different branches of the State must do the task assigned to them.
“The Army Commander addressed the Investors Forum which should not have happened. I have no problem with him, but we are heading towards militarisation. The people have voted for the Government, and you must deliver on the mandate given to you,” added Wickremesinghe, who opened his remarks saying he was “happy to resume a fresh term in Parliament”.
Wickremesinghe, who first entered Parliament in 1977 and has served in all successive parliaments, also spoke on the precarious economic situation in the country.
“Sri Lanka is facing various problems. The country’s foreign reserves are down to $ 4 billion from $ 7 billion in 2019, and the total debt of the CPC is a staggering Rs. 300 billion.”
It was pointed out that Sri Lanka has to settle $ 1 billion of International Sovereign Bonds maturing in July and a further $ 2 billion of foreign debt servicing is pending.
“Sri Lanka is to do a currency swap of $ 200 million with Bangladesh and may do another swap of $ 400 million with another country. With the increased SDR allocation by the IMF, the country may qualify to get support of $ 700 million. These combined funding isn’t sufficient to emerge from the debt servicing challenge. Additionally, the country has to pay for rising oil and fertiliser prices.
“The Government should come out with an alternative for debt servicing challenge if it does not want to work with the IMF.”
In his speech, Wickremesinghe also said that when Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena spoke earlier, he was reminded that this Government had given "relief to the rich but misery to masses”.
He also urged the Speaker to allocate a date at the earliest to hold a full-scale debate on both COVID and the economic crisis in the country.
UNP Leader and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday visited the Narahenpita Abhayaramaya after being sworn in as the only UNP National List Member in Parliament and received blessings from the Chief Incumbent Ven. Murutthettuwe Ananda Thero
