Government’s Decision Risks Hardship for Mothers and Children: Sajith Premadasa
The government’s recent decision could significantly impact the welfare of mothers and young children, warns Sajith Premadasa. For years, underweight children under five, as well as pregnant and lactating mothers suffering from anemia, have depended on Thriposha, with 1.6 million packets distributed each month. Currently, 664,920 mothers and 925,172 children rely on these essential nutritional supplements. However, following the current President’s assumption of office, a Gazette Notification (No. 2403/53, dated September 27, 2024) has announced plans to either liquidate or merge the Thriposha Company with another entity, Premadasa revealed.
According to Premadasa, this decision by the Anura Kumara Dissanayake-led government would dismantle a critical source of support for mothers and children. The Thriposha Company operates advanced machinery with a capacity exceeding production needs, generating additional cereals and contributing approximately 500 million rupees annually to the government. However, as Premadasa noted, plans to close or liquidate this institution align with IMF recommendations, a move that the opposition strongly opposes.
Addressing a public gathering in Homagama, Premadasa emphasized that successive governments have fought to maintain Thriposha production, despite attempts to halt it. He accused the current administration, led by a President who claims to represent the working class, of now attempting to shut down a program that is crucial to the health of mothers and children, vowing to resist this effort.
Broken Promises and Mismanagement
Premadasa also criticized the President and his administration for not fulfilling their campaign promises. “Every commitment made by the President and Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the campaign trail has turned out to be false,” he stated. He cited discrepancies in fuel pricing, alleging that while oil enters the port at one price, it reaches consumers at a much higher cost due to excessive taxes, corruption, and fraud—despite the administration’s promises to eliminate these issues.
According to Premadasa, the President of the Oil Corporation recently admitted that corruption investigations have been ineffective and indicated that oil prices are set by the Ministry of Finance. He cautioned that, despite assurances of reform, the nation’s economic situation remains fragile, with government leaders, including Dissanayake, failing to deliver on their pledges.
Worsening Conditions for Citizens
Premadasa highlighted other unfulfilled promises, such as reducing the electricity bill by 33%, which has yet to materialize. He also pointed to persistent long queues for essential services, including passports, where online applications now face months-long delays despite earlier assurances of efficiency.
Challenges for Teachers and Public Servants
Premadasa further criticized the government for neglecting the needs of teachers and public servants, noting that two-thirds of teachers are still awaiting salary adjustments. He questioned whether an administration that has consistently failed to address public service wages would follow through on promises of additional benefits for educators.
