Whether it is the government sector or private sector, it is the fixed salary employees who are at a higher risk of suffering financially during this crisis and it is them that need support the most, says Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha De Silva.

He made this statement while speaking to the media today (30).

"For a person doing their own business, as the cost of living increases, they can increase the price of the goods they are selling. They manage accordingly with the inflation. Whereas, the people who earn a fixed salary are the ones who are at a risk of suffering financially during this crisis. With the rise in the cost of goods, the fixed salary individuals do not get a raise in their pay. So they suffer the most. In the government sector as well, there are employees who receive a good pay and some who do not receive a good pay. So it would be unfair to treat both parties with the same benefits. This needs to be looked into and both parties cannot be given social security in the same way," said De Silva.

He further mentioned that the Government must identify the most vulnerable communities and ensure they have social security to alleviate the risk of poverty.

"Even in the private sector, such individuals should be identified and assisted by the Government. It is the President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and his group of people that have put the country in this situation and it is them that should now take the responsibility and do what is right even now. The entire world has now realised that this government has failed the people of its nation. The IMF head has also mentioned that the downfall of the Sri Lankan economy was the negligence by the economic heads. So if Gotabaya Rajapaksa is at fault, the innocent citizens are not to be blamed and penalised," he further mentioned.

He further added that within the last 2 years the Government had printed over 1.5 trillion rupees and that the economy will keep depreciating with the printing of money.

"We have foretold this as well, with the printing of money, the value of the rupee depreciates and thus the rise in the cost of living. But we also must remember that because of this, the citizens cannot suffer. So the Government must look into ways to reduce or cut from other budgets and use the funds to provide relief for citizens instead. Making unnecessary roads and extra expenditures needs to be put on hold and instead those funds must be allocated to providing necessities to the country," he concluded.