Wasantha Mudalige, representing the Jana Aragala Movement, claims that the government is attempting to mislead the public by blaming the ongoing coconut shortage on “Monkeys”, when in fact the shortage has been caused by commercial exploitation linked to a political ally.
According to Mudalige, a company owned by a provincial governor harvested and bottled hundreds of thousands of coconuts for commercial purposes, resulting in a significant shortage across the country. He alleges that this activity is the true reason why the price of a coconut has surged beyond Rs. 200 in local markets.
He further claims that the recent Mokeys census conducted by the government is merely an attempt to divert blame and protect those responsible. “The government conducted this census not to find a solution, but to protect a friend and shift the blame,” Mudalige asserted.
Highlighting the hypocrisy, Mudalige pointed out that similar actions during the previous administration were widely criticized as cronyism and political interference. “Back then, these actions were condemned as corrupt deals and misuse of power. What do we call them now?” he questioned.
Mudalige’s comments have sparked renewed attention on the transparency of resource management and political accountability within the current administration.
