Anura faces a fierce attack from Wimal Weerawansa over IMF policies, fuel hikes, luxury imports, rupee pressure, and rising public burdens.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his government have come under a blistering attack from National Freedom Front leader and former MP Wimal Weerawansa, who accused the administration of bowing to IMF conditions while placing unbearable pressure on ordinary citizens.
Speaking at a special media briefing held at the National Freedom Front party office in Battaramulla, Weerawansa charged that the current government is running what he described as a deeply cynical and wicked regime. He alleged that the administration has no conscience when burdening common people and accused it of “sucking the blood” of the lower classes.
Weerawansa also strongly criticised President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, claiming that he has not only placed the country in difficulty, but has also pushed his own party into a serious political crisis.
Referring to the recent fuel price increase, Weerawansa said the government is now preparing to raise electricity and water tariffs again. He alleged that this is part of a cruel attempt to push the people “from the frying pan into the fire,” while pleasing a circle of crony businessmen.
He said the naked truth behind what he called the government’s wicked economic effort is now being exposed.
“Before coming to power, they asked, ‘Do we need a government or a ruler to sell these at world market prices?’ Now, without any concern or care for the living standards of the common people of this country, they are living in luxury in the presidential palace, dancing to the tune of the IMF, and piling burden upon burden,” Weerawansa said.
He added that even now, the government claims fuel is still being sold at a loss. According to him, this means the administration is preparing to increase diesel, petrol, and other fuel prices further in one or two more rounds.
Weerawansa further alleged that the government is following what he called a foolish “Choon” policy by misleading the public over the US$ 695 million received from the IMF.
He argued that this money is not a victory, but a deadly debt trap carrying interest of more than 5.3%, together with penalty surcharges.
“People who go ‘Choon’ over receiving US$ 695 million from the IMF are being fooled by the ‘stupid Choon’ policy,” he said.
He claimed that at first glance, the government presents the amount as though it came cheaply. But, according to Weerawansa, hidden within it are several additional financial burdens.
He said the base interest rate of 2.73% is combined with other charges that push the real cost much higher. He further argued that US$ 695 million is only enough to purchase three oil tankers.
“After bringing those three oil tankers, what do we do next? Do we have to just fold our hands and look up at the sky?” he asked.
Weerawansa accused the current administration of failing to take any strategic steps to strengthen the productive economy or the IT sector. Instead, he alleged that the government is selling the blood and tears of innocent foreign workers to satisfy the country’s richest business circles.
He levelled his sharpest criticism over the use of foreign exchange sent home by Sri Lankan workers overseas.
“With great difficulty, washing dishes until their hands turn pink, enduring untold hardships, the mothers and young children working in the Middle East send meagre dollars,” Weerawansa said.
He alleged that those dollars were then allowed to be squandered on luxury imports, including “Rolls Royces” for Dudley Sirisena and “Choppers” for another rice mill tycoon.
He argued that instead of using those dollars carefully for essential national needs, the government had created opportunities for millionaires and billionaires to waste foreign exchange in massive amounts.
“This is a sin,” he said.
Weerawansa questioned whether this was what the ordinary people of Sri Lanka expected from a government led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.
He asked whether the government’s goal is now to please the upper class, waste the country’s dollars, suck the blood of the lower classes, and pile burden after burden on ordinary citizens.
The former MP also claimed that the continuous depreciation of the rupee and rising costs caused by what he described as the government’s fraudulent transactions are deeply unjust.
He said placing that burden on the public is unfair and then turned President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s own past statements against him.
“Oil is bought with dollars. Sri Lanka buys oil at the highest price in the world. We pay a premium of US$ 40 or 50,” Weerawansa said.
He recalled that when Anura Kumara Dissanayake was the leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, he had claimed that “the premium is where they steal.”
Weerawansa said the same premium now remains at US$ 40 or 50, while Sri Lanka continues to buy diesel and petrol at what he called the highest prices in the world.
He alleged that dollars are being spent on fuel while theft takes place during the import process.
He also claimed that because the government allowed Rolls Royces and helicopters to be imported, the rupee had fallen by 5.3% in the last four months.
Each time the rupee weakens, Weerawansa said, the burden falls directly on the shoulders of ordinary people.
“People don’t consume fuel morning, noon, and night. Do not burden the people with the cost of the government’s injustices, thefts, and incompetence,” he said.
Weerawansa also turned to the electricity sector and highway projects, claiming that state funds are being wasted through poor decisions.
He alleged that substandard coal is being brought into the country to generate minimal electricity. For the remaining generation, he claimed the government pays more than Rs. 100 per unit to diesel power plants.
“That’s why costs increase. Did the people ask to bring substandard coal?” he asked.
He also criticised the start of a highway project that he said had earlier been delayed due to a “pandu karanda tree,” referring to what he described as a religious obstruction. He said the project is now being promoted as one funded through “local funds.”
According to Weerawansa, the money for the road is being raised by issuing bonds in the local financial market at high interest rates of 10% and 13%.
He argued that even if the project is described as locally funded, items such as tar, machinery, and cement still require foreign exchange.
“This is like holding a wedding feast inside a funeral,” he said.
He alleged that the government is wasting the country’s dollars and, when the rupee falls, simply washing its hands of responsibility by saying nothing can be done, before passing the cost to the public.
Weerawansa then accused President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of betraying party members and becoming a puppet of powerful businessmen.
He alleged that the President is now making decisions according to the wishes of figures such as Dhammika Perera, Malik Samarawickrama, Krishantha Cooray, and Haneef, whom he described as part of a circle of cronies.
He claimed that government policies are being shaped in a way that opens the path for Rolls Royces and helicopters to enter the country.
According to Weerawansa, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is no longer implementing the policy of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and has instead moved in a completely opposite direction.
He said the final burden of this journey to please a crony circle will be dumped on the ordinary people of Sri Lanka through higher costs.
“President Anura Kumara must be held accountable for this sin,” Weerawansa said.
Finally, he directly challenged the general membership of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.
“Aren’t your Panchendriyas working? Don’t you understand these things? Don’t you know? If you understand and know, why aren’t you trying to tell your leader this?” he asked.
