People are paying Rs.15 for a bean pod and Rs.25 for one carrot: Ruwan

A time has come where people have to pay of Rs.15 for a single pod of beans and Rs.25 for a single carrot, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardhane said yesterday.

“Gone are the days when people in this country were able to purchase at least 250 grams of each vegetable,” Mr. Wijewardene said, speaking to some party activists in party headquarters Sirikotha.

“One cannot blame the COVID pandemic for the economic downturn as the economies of countries which were affected by the pandemic more than Sri Lanka are more stable,” he added.

“The reason for the economic downturn is the exchange rates issue. Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves are currently $ 1.5 billion. It will be down to $ 1.1 billion when the fuel and the medical bills are paid. this is the worst foreign reserve crisis in the history of Sri Lanka.the country will come to a standstill if it fails to get at least $ 5 billion within the next two months. It is the people in this country who will have to suffer if the government is unable to get this amount,” he said.

Mr. Wijewardene said Sri Lanka needs a leader who has a sound relationship with the international community to see it through this crisis. (YOHAN PERERA)