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Harsha urges dialogue between govt. and opposition on grave foreign exchange crisis

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“Better understand problem….we’re all in this together”

Opposition SJB MP, Dr. Harsha de Silva, last week urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to initiate a dialogue with the opposition to find a way out of the country’s precarious foreign exchange crisis “to better understand the problem as we’re all in this together.”

Quoting several recent news reports and accusing the Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal of making “factually incorrect statements,” the respected economist MP said: “……. I urge President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to initiate a dialogue with us, the Opposition, to better understand the problem and find solutions together, as we are all in this together.”

He prefaced his request for a dialogue with the following remarks:

“The Governor of the Central Bank reiterates his factually incorrect statements to a certain newspaper today that there is no dollar shortage in the country. However, many other newspapers report otherwise. In fact, one of the leading newspapers states that we are in need of $20mn to clear 2,000 containers stuck at the port, while another claims that we are not able to import medicine as there is a shortage of dollars.

“Meanwhile, another prominent newspaper states that the Central Bank is preparing to sell more of our gold reserves, as we do not have sufficient financial resources to keep the country functioning. Who is the Central Bank Governor trying to fool? We are at the brink of an economic collapse with insufficient dollars to import essential commodities such as medicine, milk powder, fuel, food etc

“According to the Central Bank data, at the end of November 2021, we had a mere $1.5 bn of reserves left. Thereafter, at the end of December 2021, the Central Bank claimed that they possessed $3 bn of reserves after manipulating the data with a currency swap from China for an amount of $1.5 bn.

“However, at the end of January 2022, we possessed only $2.3 bn even with the currency swap with China, thus ending up with only $700 mn of usable reserves. Therefore, we are in a precarious situation as the Central Bank needs to settle a debt payment of $70 mn today (Feb. 9) and another Sri Lanka Development Bond payment on February 17 for $160 mn.

“These two payments themselves come to a total of $230 mn, thus depleting our reserves even further. Neither the Government nor the Central Bank has a plan to try and get us back on track and bring in dollars to not only pay off our debts but also money to pay for our essentials.

“Thus, I urge President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to initiate a dialogue with us, the Opposition, to better understand the problem and find solutions together, as we are all in this together.”



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G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination will resume on 12th January 2026

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The Ministry of Education has announced that the .postponed subjects of the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination will be conducted from 12 – 20   January 2026,

 

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The aim of the Government is to ensure a safe life for every citizen -President

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stressed that the aim of the Government is to ensure a safe life for every citizen and that it is everyone’s responsibility to act with proper supervision during the resettlement of the people.

The President instructed the relevant sectors to complete all necessary repairs before 31 December by utilising the allocations given by the Government for infrastructure development for this year and not to return any part of those allocations under any circumstances.

The President said that there is no shortage of funds required for relief to the people and for restoring normal life and that what is necessary in this emergency situation is for all institutions to fulfil their responsibilities through proper coordination without limitations.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made these remarks while participating on Monday (08) afternoon at the District Coordinating Committee meeting held at the Uva Province Library Auditoriam to review the programme being carried out to restore normalcy in the lives of the affected people in the Badulla District and to develop essential infrastructure. Due to the disaster situation, 64,140 individuals belonging to 19,133 families in the Badulla District have been affected. A total of 418 houses have been completely damaged and 7,703 houses have been partially damaged.

The President inquired separately into the programmes being carried out to restore essential infrastructure such as repairing damaged roads, electricity, water supply, communication, irrigation, restarting agriculture, the livestock sector, inland fisheries and restoring the health and education sectors, among others.

The President pointed out the need to carry out all road repairs simultaneously without dividing them as roads under the Road Development Authority, provincial roads, or local authority roads. He informed officials that if the funds allocated for this purpose are insufficient, they should request the required additional allocations.

The President also instructed that an estimate be prepared and submitted for all roads in the district requiring permanent repairs and noted that funds can be provided to commence this work by January.

Officials stated that, 90% of the district’s damaged electricity supply due to the disaster situation has already been restored and the remaining supply is also being restored swiftly. They further pointed out that steps have been taken to ensure the district’s water supply is provided as required.

The reopening of schools was also discussed and the President instructed that the Government’s allowance of Rs. 15,000 granted to affected schoolchildren be paid promptly through the intervention of Divisional Secretaries.

Due to the disaster situation, 6,711 acres of agricultural land in the Badulla District have been damaged. The President instructed that the relevant farmers and the extent of damaged land be identified, compensation be provided swiftly and they be directed back into cultivation.

He further instructed officials of the Irrigation Department to provide water to agricultural lands at least temporarily, so that the farmers will be able to harvest the Maha season. The President stated that the allowance of Rs. 25,000 provided for the cleansing and restoration of damaged temples and religious sites will be granted through the Department of Cultural Affairs and that a Cabinet decision regarding this matter is expected this week.

Lengthy discussions were held on providing compensation to destroyed and damaged houses and on the resettlement of the affected people. The President also highlighted the need to implement programmes aimed at improving the mental health of people living in camps.

President Dissanayake expressed his gratitude to the Tri-forces, Government officials and the public who are working with immense dedication in all these activities.

Participating in this occasion were the Chairman of the Badulla District Coordinating Committee and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Infrastructure, Samantha Vidyaratne; Chairman of the Badulla District Coordinating Committee and Governor of Uva Province, Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara; Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security, R. M. Jayawardena; Deputy Minister of Power and Energy, Arkam Iliyas; Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, H. M. Dinindu Sampath Hennayake; Deputy Minister of Tourism, Professor Ruwan Ranasinghe; Members of Parliament Sarath Kumara, Ravindra Bandara, Sudath Balagalla, Kittnan Selvaraj, Ambika Samuel, Ajantha Gammaddege and Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, along with other ruling and opposition MPs; Chief Secretary of Uva Province, Ms. Anusha Gokula and representatives of Provincial Councils; Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, together with senior officials of the Ministry of Finance; Badulla District Secretary Panduka Sri Prabath Abeywardena and other Government officials of the district, as well as representatives of the security services

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Death toll 635 as at 06:00 AM today [09]

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The Situation Report issued by the Disaster Management Center at 06:00 AM today [09th December] confirms that 635 persons have died due to floods and landslides that took place in the country within the past two weeks. The number of persons that are missing is 192.

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