15 February 2012 05:32 pm
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake said that the country’s actual debt volume stood at Rs.5,200 billion before the recent drop in rupee value, and it would rise by another Rs.252 billion.
Mr. Karunanayake said that 52 per cent of the total debts are external borrowings.
“The rupee component of the long term liabilities has increased in this manner. In addition to the increase of Rs.252 billion, there will be a further addition of Rs.27 billion to the debt component in terms of interest payment. That is the gloomy picture of the economy,” he said.
The Central Bank recently stopped intervening in the control of exchange rates, and as a result the rupee value dropped to 121 against the US dollar.
Earlier, he said that the debt burden rose by Rs.81 billion after the devaluation of the rupee by three per cent in the budget.
Meanwhile, Minister of National Languages and Social Integration Vasudeva Nanayakkara called the Central Bank’s decision in this regard a blunder. Mr. Nanayakkara said that the import cost would rise by leaps and bounds under the present circumstances, and he feared whether the economy could cope up with the challenges triggered by this decision.
“This is a blunder. Exporters’ revenue will increase in rupee terms because of this decision. The tea and rubber industries will benefit. Yet, we have to pay increased rates for imports of essential items. Their prices will go through the roof. The rupee component of the debt burden will rise. Therefore, this decision’s beneficial effect on export industries will be negated by such impacts on imports,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)