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Vidura says speaking truth about crisis could land him in trouble

15 Mar 2022

  • State Minister Wickramanayaka fears crisis truth telling could lead to disciplinary inquiries
The National Heritage, Performing Arts and Rural Arts Protection State Minister Vidura Wickramanayaka said yesterday (14) that the current economic crisis in the country has “run amok”, adding that admitting to such might lead to disciplinary inquiries. “The economic crisis has now run amok. People will just take to the streets now. This will just lengthen the duration of the crisis. When we say this, we may have disciplinary action taken against us,” said Wickramanayaka while speaking to the media. He questioned how there is a United States dollar (USD) crisis in the country, adding that “if a mistake has happened, it should be accepted”.  Wickramanayaka was one of the two Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Government Parliamentarians who attended the event organised by 11 parties of the ruling alliance, led by former Ministers Udaya Gammanpila and Wimal Weerawansa, calling for a national programme to address the crises currently faced by the country. Subsequently, Weerawansa and Gammanpila were removed from their Cabinet Ministerial portfolios. Reports show that the SLPP backbenchers had called for disciplinary action to be taken against Wickramanayaka and SLPP MP Premnath C. Dolawatte. Sri Lanka has been battling an economic crisis, with shortages of essential items such as fuel, electricity, and medicines being prominent. After months of keeping the Sri Lankan rupee at approximately Rs. 203 per USD, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka announced last Wednesday (9) that the rupee is being floated, with the USD currently selling at over Rs. 260. Following this, the prices of almost all essential goods have steadily risen – fuel by 54%, airline tickets by 27%, medicines by 29% and a loaf of bread by Rs. 30.


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