SJB, MP Eran Wickramaratne stated that the policy statement delivered by President on January 18^th, failed to provide solutions to the crises faced by the country. The crises with regard to economic management and governance has gone beyond the control of the government subjecting the entire masses to severe hardships without essential goods and services.

Addressing a media briefing held at the office of the Leader of the Opposition in Colombo today (19), Mr. Wickremaratne further said,

He also said that  there is no increase in the value of  GDP on par with the amount of domestic and foreign borrowings by this government during the last two years. He accused the government of giving priority to paying off the debts of foreign cronies while  starving the people without essential foods inclusive of fuel for electricity generation.

People who could not afford to basic necessities despite having cash in hand due to the shortage of dollars and foreign exchange now had to stay in the dark for several hours a day without electricity due to lack of fuel as the gov has not been able to maintain a supply chain properly. But the government, having crossed its wires gives priority to repaying the loan to its cronies while mounting pressure on its citizens.

President on Jan 18^th  made its second policy statement two years after assuming the presidency, but it did not provide answers to any of  the current problems  facing the country.. Although the country faced two major problems, there was no answer to any of them in the President's policy statement. Rising commodity prices push up inflation on increasing  vegetable prices. Secondly, the import of essential commodities has come to a complete standstill due to the foreign exchange deficit. There is a shortage not only for  food and fuel but also for  medicines for the people. Only 25% of the country's essential medicines are produced and the rest are imported. There is also a shortage of essential medicines due to lack of dollars for imports.

At a time when the people are under so much of  pressure, it is doubtful that the government is  boasting of debt servicing of  international sovereign bonds on time. People need to be told the secret of why foreign debtors are more important to the government than the citizens of the country to this government  Mr. Wickremaratne demanded that the government reveal the truth to the people as to who was paid back this  debts.

All three international rating agencies have downgraded Sri Lanka's credit rating due to the government's economic mismanagement. Against such a backdrop of bankruptcy, it is important for the people to know the secret of the government giving priority to repaying foreign loans regardless of the local people mete out with hardships.

At a time he economy faces  bankruptcy without foreign exchange, the government has belittled the country to the point where the ministers in charge of the subject say that the Indian Oil Company has refused to supply oil to the Ceylon Electricity Board. This proves that the government is not in a  strong position and unable to deal with the international community.

He said the Yugadanavi power plant had to be sold for as little as $ 500 million because the country was not economically strong to negotiate from a point of strength, Further, the government is losing monthly  of around  $ 600 million in foreign remittances due to a lack of proper economic planning. Even Government ministers do not know the amount to which the Trincomalee oil  tanks were sold to India Mr. Wickremaratne stated that the statement made by the Cabinet Ministers themselves that they have not seen the agreement regarding the sale of Yugadanavi and Trincomalee oil tanks proves that the country has been degraded in the eyes of the international community.