Exports collapse, unemployment rises: Eran Wickremaratne

Pledges to reverse fertilizer policy

SJB parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne says that his party has decided to allow the use of chemical fertilizer in order to promote export- oriented value -added commercial agriculture.

Addressing a media briefing held at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo, Wickramaratne said that the crisis that started with the food shortages under this government which has no economic policy or plan has now spread to all sectors of the economy, leading to a collapse in exports and a large number of unemployment due to import restrictions on intermediary goods used for exports without dollars.

He said that future SJB government would give priority to exports and the government will mediate directly to seek foreign market opportunities for small and medium scale entrepreneurs. Actions would also be taken to provide the required technology to SME sectors on a priority basis.

Further, in order to give equal opportunity for women in obtaining employment in the private sector, a scheme will be introduced to provide financial relief for maternity leave to private sector employees.

“This government came in to office by spreading falsehoods, inciting racism and with distorted public opinion as it had no policies for governance. The Thera of Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya performed a drama of a cobra emerging from Kelani River with a sacred relic, then had a play on arrest of ‘Ranaviruvan’, later staged a play on ‘MCC’ agreement and made another play about the Singapore Free Trade Accord. Now the entire country has realized that this government knows nothing about governance and economic and financial management,” he said.

“Now they are making a soundtrack and using it to get the Attorney General to withdraw cases against politicians of the ruling family and their cronies. Now the latest drama is about chemical fertilizers, power cuts and gas explosions.”

At a time when everything has turned upside down under this government, some ministers have started preaching to deceive the people saying that they should think positively. The government is now creating a dream of the future by misleading the people forgetting the reality, Wickramaratne said.

He said that the Governor of the Central Bank has told a foreign channel on January 24 that Sri Lanka has all the food stocks that it needs.

“But when you go to a shop, you are given only one packet of milk powder per customer. A notice to that effect has also been displayed. Don’t MPs and ministers see this reality? The government advises people to be positive in the face of such market crisis. In order to do so, there must be clarity about the government’s policies and programs.

“Under the existing economy in this country is where not even a bag of cement is freely available. A delegation from the packaging industry told us that there was no corrugated paper in the market. Shortage of intermediary goods to manufacture cartons for export of goods, not only disrupts exports but also leads to the collapse of local industries and unemployment. The food crises in the country has spread one by one and affected the entire sectors but the government has no practical solution.”