Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday (08) said the government had admitted that substandard coal had been imported.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday (08) in response to a statement made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday (07), the SJB leader alleged that the low electricity generation, recorded at the country’s main coal-fired power plant, was evidence of the problem. He said the previous day’s power output had fallen to an unprecedented level, claiming it was the first time such a situation had arisen, under any government.

Premadasa also charged that the government had taken 38 days to respond to public hardship, alleging that authorities had moved to announce a relief package only after sustained protests organised by the SJB.

He said the Opposition had for weeks urged the President and the government to provide relief to citizens facing severe economic pressure, hardship and shock, but claimed the administration had remained inactive until now. According to Premadasa, the government had suddenly presented a list of promises while simultaneously attempting to criticise the Opposition.

Welcoming the latest relief measures, the Opposition Leader nevertheless urged the Government to ensure that the programme was properly implemented and expanded.

Premadasa said similar promises had previously been made to people affected by the Ditwah Cyclone, including compensation, land and financial assistance. However, he claimed many of those pledges had not been fulfilled, leading affected residents to stage protests.

The SJB leader argued that Sri Lanka could not repay its debts by shrinking the economy. He said a proper understanding of the economic multiplier effect would require policies that expand production and services rather than reduce circulation and weaken growth.

Premadasa also renewed calls for the Government to renegotiate its agreement with the International Monetary Fund, noting that the administration had earlier promised to revise the programme but had failed to do so.

He alleged that the Opposition had always urged the IMF to provide relief to the people and had never sought measures that would sacrifice the public but claimed that opportunities for Opposition representatives to meet IMF officials had now been restricted.

Premadasa also criticised the Government’s Rs. 100 billion relief packages, describing it as inadequate. He said gas consumers had been excluded from the programme and claimed that nearly 2.5 million people had not received sufficient support.

He warned that new tax proposals presented to Parliament would place an additional burden on consumers and called for the relief package to be increased.

The Opposition Leader also alleged that the Government was ignoring a developing fertiliser shortage, claiming that not only urea but also MOP and TSP fertilisers were in short supply, despite official denials.

By Saman Indrajith