Colombo, April 8 (FN Agency) Opposition leader Lakshman Kiriella has urged Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to take a cue from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and tender an apology to the public for the economic mess created in the island nation. “The present crisis has been created by none other but by President Rajapaksa. He should take a cue from Indian Prime Minister Modi,” Kiriella said on Thursday. The reference was to Modi taking part the three farm laws following widespread protests.
“We have been trying for three days to find solutions for the crises. This is not a crisis of our making. The Speaker warns of a looming food crisis. The reason for the food crisis is nothing but an arbitrary decision made by the President to go organic and banning chemical fertilisers that resulted in 50 per cent loss of harvest.” “When the President took the oath, he pledged to uphold and protect the Constitution. Now, he has violated that. People have no food, clothing and housing.
A bag of cement now costs more than Rs. 3,000. Prices of clothes have increased by 300 per cent. “It is not us in this Parliament who should be held responsible for the crises. It was not us who conducted talks with India on Trinco(malee) oil tank farm. Parliament was not informed of those talks and agreements. “A section of the port was given to China. We still do not know what exactly had been given to them. We boast that Parliament has supremacy over all public finances, yet the Finance Minister has not spoken a word to parliament since Dec 10,” Kiriella said.