Govt yet to reverse economic blunders –JVP leader

by Lalin Fernandopulle

The Government failed miserably to reverse the economic blunders committed by the previous Government which is detrimental to the economy, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake MP told the Sunday Observer.

He said that the interim budget presented by the Government is not a comprehensive analysis of the economy but rather a manipulation of prices to satisfy the wishes of the people.

It is not based on research on the needs of the masses and on developing the country. “The former government was dislodged due to extreme corruption, nepotism and callous disregard for public opinion.

People had reposed faith in the new government that it would eliminate corruption and restore good governance,” Dissanayake said.

“However, it has not kept to the expectation of the masses to penalise the perpetrators. The process of punishing the fraudsters is unsatisfactorily slow,” he said. The Government headed by President Maithripala Sirisena has pledged to take to task all those who lined their pockets and abused power during the previous regime.

People are eagerly waiting to see the criminals being brought to justice. The loss to the country is estimated to be around US$ 515 million from the Kerawalapitiya power plant, the purchase of MIG 27 aircraft for the Sri Lanka Air Force and the oil hedging deal by the CPC under the former government. “As a party we have pressurised the government and created public opinion that it should put its foot down and take the culprits to task, setting a precedence for good governance,” Dissanayake said.“Government cooperation in this endeavour has been slow. It has committed a financial blunder with the Treasury bond issue and the government has to incur a staggering loss of nearly Rs. 10 billion.

The government is trying to cover it up with an investigation, the credibility of which is questionable,” the JVP leader said.

“The credibility of the three-member committee appointed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to investigate the controversial Treasury bond issue has been questioned as the members are alleged to be loyal to the United National Party,” he said.

The Central Bank Governor appointed by this government is citizen of Singapore and his signature will be placed on Sri Lankan currency notes. The Port City project is a corrupt deal of the former government.

“We asked for information in Parliament about the project from former Government members but we did not get any information.

We want the project stopped as it has no benefit to the country.

The Government not doing anything about it has cast doubts among the people,” Dissanayake said.

He said all projects stalled and ongoing should be re-visited and studied thoroughly.

“We should make them commercially viable. Political uncertainty cannot go on as it creates instability which does not augur well for the economy. Political instability gives a negative picture to foreign investors,” he said.

A parliamentary election should be held soon in keeping with the people's wishes to get out from this political pickle, the JVP leader said.