18 November 2022 02:53 pm
There is a question whether Sri Lanka’s economy is run by the government or by an international force, the solitary UNP MP Vajira Abeywardene told Parliament today.
Speaking during the second reading debate on the budget, he said Parliament and the government should take control of the economy.
“We will have to take control of the economy, or else the politicians will be attacked once again. We must gain control of the economy and safeguard our residences from being torched down once again,” he said.
“The Central Bank and other institutions should work in accordance with the government economic policy, and these institutions cannot go against it,” he said while highlighting the need for having interest rates and taxes checked.
"I propose that we put a cap to control interest rates. No one can afford the current interest rates. An MP told me that he has decided to sell a plot of land belonging to him in order to settle his loan. We have to safeguard local businessmen. Sri Lanka has destroyed business tycoons such as Upali Wijewardene in the past. People such as Wijewardene would have competed with Indian businessmen if he was alive today. Late Minister of Industries C. V. Gunaratne was killed days after he signed up an agreement with an American company to manufacture fertilizer locally. They say LTTE killed him but it is not clear as to who really wanted him killed,” the MP said.
Also he said some officers in state institutions such as Ceylon Electricity Board and Telecom.
Some claim that Telecom is earning a profit but the real situation is that an overdraft has to be taken to pay salaries to its employees.
“ It was not politicians who brought about the economic downfall, but by other interested parties. (,Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)