Former MP Nimal Lanza has sharply criticized the government for failing to manage the rising cost of essential goods in Sri Lanka, stating that citizens are struggling due to the unchecked increase in the prices of items like rice, eggs, and coconuts. He argues that the government has not fulfilled its promises to tackle inflation and reduce the cost of living, despite assurances made during the election.
Lanza pointed out that the National People’s Force, the party in power led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake, campaigned on a platform of reducing prices, ending business mafias, and eliminating commissions that inflate costs. However, according to Lanza, these promises have not been kept. He suggested that the administration has been unable to curb the influence of trade monopolies and corruption in essential commodities, which continue to drive prices higher.
He also noted that the party had gained significant support during the election by promoting the idea that controlling these economic factors would result in substantially lower prices for essential items. Lanza accused the party of knowingly making exaggerated promises that it could not fulfill, leading to public disappointment.
Despite his criticism of the current government, Lanza praised the economic reforms carried out by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had led efforts to stabilize the economy after a period of financial crisis. He highlighted Wickremesinghe’s achievement in raising the country’s foreign reserves to $6 billion and implementing economic reforms aimed at reducing inflation and maintaining a stable supply of essentials like fuel and gas.
He argued that the current administration is essentially continuing the economic strategies put in place by Wickremesinghe, acknowledging that these measures have helped stabilize the economy. He noted that the government is following a similar trajectory out of necessity, given that deviating from Wickremesinghe’s policies would likely reverse economic progress.
Nimal Lanza criticized the current administration for failing to deliver relief to citizens in line with its promises. He claimed that despite assurances of bi-annual salary increases for government employees to offset rising living costs, these increments have not been realized. The public, he suggested, is still bearing the burden of high costs, with no concrete government plan in place to alleviate the situation.
Lanza pointed out that promises to reduce gas, electricity prices, and taxes remain unfulfilled, and that the administration appears to lack a clear program to deliver these reductions. He warned that instead of providing economic relief, the government is pushing citizens further into debt.
Finally, Lanza expressed concern that deviating from the economic policies introduced by Wickremesinghe could lead to setbacks. He emphasized that while the current government is building on the previous administration’s efforts, a failure to continue with or improve upon these policies could negatively impact economic stability.
