Sri Lanka’s economy already crashed: Wajira

• Says government has not followed the IMF programme
• Some parties have ruled this country for 67 years. They constructed Victoria, Randenigala, Rantambe, Maduru Oya, Inginimitiya. These can provide water to cultivate 2 million acres of paddy. Some come up with the wrong notion that the present government is following the IMF programme, which was agreed upon during the tenure of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe

While highlighting that the government has not followed the IMF programme lately, United National Party (UNP) Chairman Wajira Abeywardana, over the weekend, said that Sri Lanka’s economy had already crashed. 
“Some people who are gathered here asked me whether the country’s economy is going to fall. I told them that I will talk about it during my address. Therefore, I would say that the economy has already crashed. If so what have all these opposition political parties come together? Some do not understand as to what we have come together for,” Mr Abeywardana told a seminar which was organised by the joint opposition over the weekend. 
“Some parties have ruled this country for 67 years. They constructed Victoria, Randenigala, Rantambe, Maduru Oya, Inginimitiya. These can provide water to cultivate 2 million acres of paddy. Some come up with the wrong notion that the present government is following the IMF programme, which was agreed upon during the tenure of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This is wrong. The former President got the legislature to approve 72 legislations to administer the nation in a different manner. Sri Lanka had to have $ 8 billion at the end of 2025. Accordingly the value of the dollar has to be between Rs 250 to Rs 275. This legislations stipulates how to engage in international trade. The rate of a dollar now is Rs 340. This will result in total foreign debt of Sri Lanka to increase by Rs 37 billion. Accordingly the total debts accounts Rs 1.5 trillion. This legislation has been violated today and the economy has reached its last,” he added. 
Also he said the Parliament Budget Office Act is yet to be implemented as well. One cannot pledge anything in election manifestos as per this Act as per sections 148, 149,150, 151 and 152. 
Furthermore he said almost 30 political parties have come together to form the joint opposition. “All political parties must come together. A number of political parties which came together in 2022 to stabilise the economy which crashed,” Mr. Abeywardana said in this regard.