The National People’s Power (NPP) has demanded that the government stop its actions to maximize benefits to government ministers and their allies, oppress the general public on all fronts, and provide immediate relief to the people.
It is stated in a press release issued by the party today (6th)..
The full press release is published here:
At the beginning of the new year, the people face a series of economic difficulties. Bus fares, school van fares, and prices of milk powder, vegetables, bread and many other essential items for daily living have gone up.
Disasters and loss of life due to gas shortages or gas leaks are still occurring. Having a gas stove is like having a bomb that can explode in a house at any moment. Waiting in line for gas and milk powder has become an essential part of people’s daily lives. It is also heard that gas is being sold outside the queues at higher prices.
The unavailability of gas has forced people to switch to other traditional cooking methods, and people in apartments are finding it difficult to cook and feed their children. Also, the livelihoods of food manufacturers and related self-employed are under serious threat.
But this government does not seem to care enough about these issues.
The lives of people who have been deprived of their right to life due to the prevailing economic hardships have been made even more miserable by these serious problems that have arisen in recent months.
Recent allowances and temporary relief to public corporations and retired officers / employees are by no means sufficient to address these issues in the long run. Wage anomalies, issues in the agricultural sector such as debt and nutrition problems that have already intensified cannot be solved by such temporary informal measures. Nevertheless, instead of providing a solution to these crises, government MPs and ministers are saying that there are no such problems or proposing unscrupulous fleeting solutions that are causing people to fall from the pan to the hearth.
Although it is clear that the cause of these severe economic problems is the policy decisions they make, they are still reiterating that the cause of the crisis is the global economic turmoil caused by the global epidemic of COVID 19.
The main reason for the food shortage was the government’s agricultural policy.
Sri Lanka has increased fuel prices, although the prices in the world market have come down. That is the economic policy of the government. It will bring huge profits not only to the CPC but also to the IOC. The economic and strategic policies of the government have seriously challenged the country’s energy and food security.
As such, this government with an executive presidency and a 2/3 parliamentary majority is proving to be short-sighted, failed and weak government.
Although there is ample evidence that the government’s popularity is declining and their actions provoke the masses, the President, the Prime Minister or the Ministers do not seem to be making any positive efforts to address the existing issues. At the same time, due to these crises, the government is collapsing from inside and outside, making any rescue impossible.
The NPP calls on all responsible government members to take immediate and collective action to address these issues and ease the heavy burden on the people. At the very least, the government must take steps to cut unnecessary spending, prevent waste, and stop large-scale corruption committed by its members.
The people can no longer be expected to tolerate the destructive arbitrariness and the policy and programme that continues to be carried out by the government and benefits only themselves and their allies.
We believe that the people should be prevented from becoming more catastrophic, as they brought this government to power with high hopes and aspirations. In this situation, we call on all progressive people who value democracy to prevent such a situation.
