The Colombo Stock Exchange has achieved unprecedented levels, marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s economic trajectory, according to Minister of Civil Aviation and Transport Bimal Ratnayake. In an interview with a local newspaper, the Minister highlighted the government’s economic management as a key factor behind this achievement, contrasting it with the performance of previous administrations.
“We are systematically managing the economy,” Ratnayake stated. “The stock market has reached a level that has never been seen before in history, something that did not happen during Ranil’s tenure, despite his claims of being a great economic guru.”
The Minister attributed the public’s support for the government to their disillusionment with past administrations, which, he said, left the country in a dire state. “People do not expect miracles from our government because they have endured years of mismanagement under Mahinda and Ranil. That’s why the people gave us a mandate greater than what we asked for.”
Ratnayake dismissed criticism from opposition figures and sections of the media, describing them as “political orphans” and emphasizing that their attempts to undermine the government’s progress would not succeed. “This is the government that the people have built. They will not bow down to anyone. The only people waiting for our government to fall are those who have lost their way and a few media outlets interested in our failure. They cannot stop our journey.”
Interestingly, Minister Ratnayake addressed comments made by his colleague, Minister Sunil Handunnetti, who had previously referred to the stock market as a “gambling ground.” Ratnayake noted the irony in Handunnetti now celebrating the market’s growth, which he credited to the government’s own policy decisions.
The government’s approach, according to Ratnayake, reflects a balance between skepticism about the stock market’s speculative nature and an acknowledgment of its potential as an economic indicator, underscoring a shift in strategy to align with broader developmental goals.
