Parliament member Dr Harsha De Silva said that the news regarding the debt restructuring has not yet been received and the government will have to finish the debt restructuring soon if the debt restructuring is not done, there is a possibility of problems in the agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Sri Lanka Latest News
Member of Parliament Dr Harsha De Silva stated this when he attended the press conference held at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo.
He further commented,
5 research institutes have prepared a report on the living conditions of the people of Sri Lanka. Accordingly, Pepper Cube Institute says that 91 per cent of the people have more expenses than income. This is a serious statement. Also, the research institute called Contum says that 79 per cent of the high-ranking people in the society are unable to pay for their daily life. The Cantor Research Institute says that 25 per cent of the amount of powdered milk taken has been stopped. Also, the government statistics department said that 50 per cent of the children going to school are not able to buy the things they need to go to school. Also, the cost of living has increased by 92 per cent since the economic crisis. Learn Asia Institute says that the poverty which was 30 lakh has increased to 70 lakh today. It is also mentioned that peri-urban poverty has increased by 18 per cent, rural poverty by 36 percent and estate-related poverty by 51 percent. Research institutes also state that 56 per cent of the people are suffering from mental stress due to the economic crisis.
Also, in the year 2021, the current price of a consumer product obtained by spending one hundred rupees has become 246 rupees. In 2021, the price of toothpaste and soap obtained by spending 100 rupees has increased to 223 rupees. While the price of certain goods has not increased, it was found that the net weight of those goods has decreased. Accordingly, the main point is to reduce the price of goods in a way that people feel.
Meanwhile, the biggest problem for the people living in the middle class and upper middle class is the tax of 36 per cent on their monthly salary. After such a large tax is levied on their salary, they cannot manage their household budget properly. Therefore, living today has become a problem for the middle class. Can this situation be changed according to the International Monetary Fund? It should be seen as bad.
Also, Samagi Janabalawegaya has put forward a program on how to reduce the tax paid when earning from 36 per cent to 24 per cent and how to move towards the expected goals. Samagi Janabalawaga is working to change the amount of tax levied on the average middle-class people fairly. Also, the plan of the United People’s Force to recover the country is being confirmed these days. It was confirmed that there is a huge problem of survival for the people of all strata of the society.
Also, we have to work within the framework of the International Monetary Fund signed by the President, otherwise, debt restructuring will not be possible. The alternative policy for that has not been presented yet. But let Samagi Janabalawega work to make the structural changes within the agreement made with the International Monetary Fund. Samagi Janabalawega has a short-term and medium-term plan to alleviate the suffering of the people.
The International Monetary Fund, the government and the creditors have agreed that the program of the International Monetary Fund and debt restructuring should go together. However, the international debt restructuring is not over. Although the government said that they had reached an agreement regarding the bilateral loans, the documents signed by that person have not been submitted to the parliament. The news regarding debt restructuring is yet to be received. After receiving it, it has to be discussed in the parliament. Debt restructuring has to be completed soon.
If it is not possible to carry out the debt restructuring, there may be problems in the agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Although the news is good, the country’s economy is on the knife edge. If someone says that the country got out of bankruptcy, such a thing has not happened yet. Next, the people who take over the government have an enormous role to play. Samagi Janabalavegaya is ready to accept that challenge. If you give support to the United People’s Force, the United People’s Force can take the country forward.”
