Ranil has not been stabiliser of economy; he’s the wrecker: AKD

By Saman Indrajith

Most of the International Sovereign Bonds (ISB) were issued by a government led by Ranil Wickremesinghe, whose economic decisions had played a significant role in the current financial crisis, National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on Wednesday (11), addressing a rally in Kandy.

Dissanayake highlighted what he called the irony of Wickremesinghe claiming credit for stabilising Sri Lanka’s economy, given the latter’s involvement in the policies that had precipitated the crisis. He assured that an NPP-led government would revitalise the economy through a carefully structured development drive, harnessing the country’s human capital and resources.

He criticised past governments for consistently pledging to boost exports, while the share of exports had either stagnated or declined over the years. “Take a look at our export performance during the last two years. It’s been in decline. Has Ranil taken steps to study the economy, identify our strengths, seize opportunities, and develop industries to leverage these opportunities?” Dissanayake questioned.

The NPP leader accused Wickremesinghe and his associates of being primarily focused on enriching themselves at the expense of the nation, neglecting development priorities. He said some people still believed that Wickremesinghe had a master plan up his sleeve, but history suggested otherwise. “He has no plans. He will lose the election and go home. Some fear that the government might attempt to manipulate the vote count, but with 80 percent of state officials on our side, we are confident in the integrity of the process,” he said.