Addressing the current administration’s monetary policies, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that Battaramulle Seelarathana Thero, a candidate in the last presidential election, demonstrates a stronger understanding of liquidity management than the cabinet members of the incumbent government. Wickremesinghe shared these views during a recent rally held in Kandy, directing sharp criticism at the government’s economic approach.
The former president went on to say:
“Vijitha Herath claims that no money was printed. However, the Central Bank has admitted that money was printed to maintain liquidity. Even Seelarathana Thero understands liquidity better than some of the key figures in this government. These officials do not seem to grasp the concept, despite wearing the clothing of democracy, which still does not suit them.
“Now, they claim they will ‘clean up’ Parliament. But how will they do this? It is up to the citizens to elect their representatives. The people should decide who is fit for the job. Those who lack a foundation in democratic principles do not understand this. While the President accuses Parliament of corruption, 58% of this country’s voters have opposed these claims, indicating that the President’s accusations are not entirely accurate.
“If there are corrupt individuals, it is the people who will remove them.
“The President speaks of eliminating corruption, but the anti-corruption bill was introduced only after I became President. This cannot be achieved by legislation alone, and there has been misinformation surrounding this issue. As a second step, we presented a bill that allows for the seizure of assets obtained through illegal means. If I were still in office, Parliament would have been dissolved once that bill was passed. Anura Kumara Dissanayake did not act on this.
“We established a comprehensive national anti-corruption agenda, not drafted by me, but by the International Monetary Fund. This agenda includes 15 to 20 measures, such as enforcing the Anti-Corruption Act, amending the National Audit Act, and promoting transparency in public procurement. Without implementing these, you cannot hold wrongdoers accountable. The President and the NPP are merely chanting slogans; we have created the methods necessary to catch thieves. I urge the President to take the next step.”
Wickremesinghe also pointed out, “Since the NPP assumed power, electricity and oil prices have decreased. But this is due to the price formula we introduced, not their policies. The recent reduction in electricity bills follows the pricing model we put in place.”
