Embilipitiya, Sri Lanka – Deputy Minister of Defense Aruna Jayasekara has stirred controversy by claiming that the current government avoided making “stupid” economic decisions—such as reducing taxes or lowering the prices of essential goods—after coming to power.
Speaking at a media briefing in Embilipitiya, Jayasekara said the government chose a more disciplined approach to economic recovery, in contrast to previous administrations that, he claimed, worsened the country’s financial crisis through populist measures.
“After our government came to power, our primary objective was to create economic stability in the country,” he said. “We didn’t make foolish decisions like cutting VAT or slashing prices. If we had done that, it would have led to another economic collapse.”
Jayasekara emphasized that his administration took expert advice and followed a carefully crafted plan to stabilize the economy rather than making politically popular but economically unsustainable choices.
“We didn’t rush to offer jobs in ministries just to please people. That would have broken the system. Instead, we focused on laying a strong economic foundation,” he added.
He acknowledged the country was in deep economic trouble when the current government took office and claimed their efforts have since revived financial stability.
Referring to the recent national budget, Jayasekara said it should not be seen as one filled with giveaways, but rather as one that supports long-term sectoral development.
“This is not a budget for potatoes, salt, flour, and sugar. It’s a budget that supports entire sectors and paves the way for real economic progress,” he said.
The remarks have sparked mixed reactions from the public and economic analysts, some praising the government’s fiscal discipline, while others criticized the tone and language used by the Deputy Minister.
