Wasantha Samarasinghe urges Sri Lankans abroad to send dollars home quickly, warning hoarding forex could worsen the economic crisis.
Sri Lankans abroad must send dollars into the country quickly, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe has warned, saying delays could deepen the present economic pressure.
The Minister said expatriate Sri Lankans should not hold onto dollars while expecting the value of the currency to rise further tomorrow or the day after.
He emphasized that sending dollars into Sri Lanka at this moment is essential to protect the country’s economic stability.
The Minister also issued a special message to those engaged in the tourism industry and to exporters.
He said dollars earned through tourism must be brought into the country without delay.
Exporters, he added, should also convert their foreign exchange earnings into rupees.
Minister Samarasinghe warned that if foreign exchange does not flow into the country properly, the same groups delaying that flow will eventually become victims of the resulting economic crisis.
He further stressed that the government will take strict action against individuals who exploit consumers by using the exceptional market situation for unfair advantage.
The Minister also said certain parties are misinterpreting the current economic situation.
He added that the government is not prepared to waste time correcting such distorted interpretations.
