SJB blames country’s woes on govt. lacking credibility here and abroad

Foreign assistance to overcome Sri Lanka’s financial crisis will not be available as the international community has no trust in incumbent government, says the main opposition SJB.

Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo recently, Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said that international community would not extend any support to the government which has no mandate from the people. “They do not trust this government. How could one expect foreigners to trust this government when Lankans living abroad do not trust it? Even during the times of war we received eight billion US dollars per year as remittances from Lankans working abroad. Today this amount is less than one billion US dollars because they know that money sent home is misappropriated by this government. Since our own Lankans abroad do not trust this government. Will foreigners trust it,” Kiriella queried.

He said that any government ruling this country needs to find at least 12 billion US dollars. “We need six billion US dollars to pay for food, medicine and such other needs, and six more billions of USD to pay the loan installments. This is the situation up to 2025. Any ruler has to find that amount. We have been asking the government in parliament how it would find this amount but never got an answer,” Kiriella said.

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and MP Harshana Rajakaruna also addressed the briefing.