VIDEO

’Where were these experts four years ago to predict country’s economy reaching zero?’ asks Susil

14 June 2023 07:23 pm - 22 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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While rejecting reports on Sri Lanka's growing food insecurity and child labour, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha questioned on where these experts were four years ago and why they failed to predict that the country's economy would come to zero.

While addressing a blood donation campaign organised in line with the World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) at the Education Ministry today, he said there are laws in the country that should be followed when preparing reports.

"Those reports were made without considering any laws. Consequently, I condemned the reports," he said.

WBDD is held on June 14 each year. The event was organised for the first time in 2004 by four core international organizations.

"Based on a report issued by the World Food Programme (WFP), an expert has said that at least 7.5 million Sri Lankans face acute food insecurity, and another expert has said that child labour in the country is increasing for the first time in 20 years," he said.

The ground-level details, according to the expert reports, are totally different. If child labour is increasing, the Labour Minister will take the appropriate decision.

In our country, it is compulsory for children to receive education for 15 years.

"If 350,000 child births occur annually, then there will be 340,000 admissions to Grade One. This group completes the Grade Five school examination in primary education. Our primary education system is similar to that of developed countries. No one can say that it is wrong, and I can prove it with accurate statistics.

"At least 99.5 percent of the total child births get school enrollments. The said number of students is continuing their education up to the GCE Ordinary Level exams. But there is a 09 to 12 percent dropout rate of students. The dropout rate in developed countries is much higher than ours.

"There are laws in the country for reports to e base on. But these reports were made without considering any such laws. Therefore, I totally reject them," Education Minister Premajayantha said. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)

Comments - 22

Spartacus Wednesday, 14 June 2023 07:54 PM

Other countries can afford drop out rates because they have strong economies to employ the drop out and make himself successful. What have you and other monkeys in parliament so far achieved in any field other than corruption, robbing and racism?

Gamini Jayaweera Thursday, 15 June 2023 03:04 AM

Dear Minister, please refer to an article published in the Colombo Telegraph on 25 Dec. 2014 titled "Use and Abuse of the Trust of the Nation". In this article under a sub heading called "Booming Economy" clearly states, I quote "The other fundamental problem is most of our ruling party Politicians, Top Business Leaders and Bankers who support the governing party are turning a blind eye or ignorant to a very basic principle of Capitalism which is “Bigger the Boom, Greater the Bust”. To make things worse, in our case the “Boom” is built on huge amount of borrowed money with a very weak industrial base. Are there any strategies or contingency plans in place for a possible “economic bust” in the near future that may drag our country into “bankruptcy”? At the time you were in MR's govt. and please don't blame the others for your inability to understand the economic situation at the time.

Tissa Fernando Wednesday, 14 June 2023 09:23 PM

Where were you? Were you born yesterday? Were you not part of the clan that brought this economic misfortune. Go and get yourself checked by a psychiatric.

Manal G Wednesday, 14 June 2023 09:39 PM

Experts predict on Market data not on an idot being elected to run the country. So stop putting these idiotic arguments and acting smart.

DLL Gunasekera Wednesday, 14 June 2023 11:02 PM

Someone called Mr Lee Kuan Yen mentioned it in 1990 addressing the University students in Singapore. Some Sri Lankans except those 6.9 millions this minister were expecting this reality sooner or later.

Gn Wednesday, 14 June 2023 11:29 PM

We see people starving, rationing, ghe truth, why is this minister making false comments, wasn't there a recent law introduced to penalise people making false statements in social media? What about the thousands of false statements made by ministers to hide their incompetence?

Suren Sarathkumara Wednesday, 14 June 2023 11:44 PM

Look at this man who was part and parcel of the process which sent the country to zero

Zaza Wednesday, 14 June 2023 11:46 PM

Hi, Minister. You were part of the system that damned this nation. You played for all the teams under all captains. They survived and you are there. What a democracy, what a freedom.?

Demuni de Silva Thursday, 15 June 2023 12:15 AM

Then treasury along with the the FM kept dark the precision of the economy !

Demuni Uduwara Thursday, 15 June 2023 12:17 AM

Susil, where were you ?

Gamini Thursday, 15 June 2023 12:31 AM

All wise and educated predicted this and showed the path. You including the govt. experts like Bandula G being drunk with greed, power and being 'yes-men' knew it but did not have courage to correct it.

Ram Thursday, 15 June 2023 02:47 AM

Expert advise not taken seriously and Gota followed advise of other men and that was part of the down fall. If Gota took advice from Kopi Kade Polee mudalali he would have done better

Gnana Maniyo Thursday, 15 June 2023 03:52 AM

Experts couldn't predict four year ago, probably because they were unaware at the time, that you will propose a LeeKuan/Mahathir/Putin superman to power and bankrupt our economy.

Bandu Thursday, 15 June 2023 06:17 AM

How can the experts predict that a monkey you made President with both hands saying yes and gave all extra power, predict what that monkey will do with a razor and kill our economy and agriculture in two years of misrule with your help.

Thimothy Thursday, 15 June 2023 06:31 AM

Every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to come with some idiotic thing or the other to tarnish the image of SL. Sri Lankans and the western states want to see SL as an underdeveloped country for ever for their benefits. I simply dont understand why Sri Lankans do politics with their own motherland. If the leader they like is there even if he's the worst murderer , then they praise the system, if not even if the country is doing well , they keep putting it down.

Yoga Thursday, 15 June 2023 07:03 AM

Don't you think you and all others with are part of the crisis. Don't xeny and try to accept the truth and develop strategies and action plans to overcome the issues and challenges. If you try to deny the consequences will be worst.

Shiran de Soysa Thursday, 15 June 2023 07:54 AM

Were you listening? Your President was a "know all" and you and fellow Ministers were "Yes, Sir, three bags full, Sir" puppets

SK Kumara Thursday, 15 June 2023 08:46 AM

Do you have to be an expert to predict the state of the economy ? Anyone can predicate the future catastrophe just by looking at the clowns who run the circus.

MirakRajBanda Thursday, 15 June 2023 09:08 AM

Prediction based on Rajapakayas along with his stooges like you stick to power for that long.

MirakRajBanda Thursday, 15 June 2023 09:08 AM

Prediction based on Rajapakayas along with his stooges like you stick to power for that long.

Jude Thursday, 15 June 2023 09:58 AM

Check the archives of my comments in Daily Mirror, I told More than 10 years ago that SL gonna be bankrupt due to Enormous amount of Sovereign Bonds issued by government of SL. Then The Rajapaksa family looted the Treasury and the corruption run in millions of dollars!! And Susil you were part of That regime!!

Disgusted Thursday, 15 June 2023 11:43 AM

Seriously! Were you born just yesterday? You are a part of this mess, so don't try to act all smart now! You are absolutely disgusting!!

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’Where were these experts four years ago to predict country’s economy reaching zero?’ asks Susil

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