For the past nine months we have been trying to explain to the government how its “foolish economic management” would affect the people, UNP MP Harsha de Silva said pointing out that it ended with the people of the country suffering a staggering blow. 

He stated that the cause for the breakdown in the country’s economy was due to “artificially” dropping down interest rates and the “artificial” rupee appreciation.

This caused the loans obtained to increase in a manner the government, country or economy could not withstand and import cost to increase exceedingly, due to the low prices of import goods after the rupee appreciation, he said.

“Economic laws are similar to – what goes up must come down. Nivard Cabraal can’t stray from economic laws and deceive everyone including the President and carry out these acts,” de Silva said.

Speaking during a press conference today the parliamentarian and economist charged that when they had pointed out these mistakes and errors the Central Bank had claimed that UNP politicians “pretending to be economists” were deceiving the public. 

We did not pretend to be anything, we told them what we know, the National List MP asserted stating that they spoke on behalf of the people. “We knew for a fact that people would be badly hit by this.”

Shut down Mihin Air

The government should shut down Mihin Air immediately, Harsha de Silva also said pointing out that the losses suffered by Sri Lanka’s national budget carrier so far is Rs. 14,000 million, leaving aside the year 2011.

“We (the UNP) demand that Mihin Air, which destroys people’s money, should be shut down by tomorrow morning.”

A tower is being prepared to be built at a cost of $110 million (Rs.13,000 million), he said pleading from the government to not spend this Rs.13,000 million now and instead use these money to implement a process to benefit the masses.