New people’s mandate can get country out of crisis – AKD

If the government, the private sector, farmers, fishermen, foreign workers and people could work together rigorously for two or three years, the country can get out of the dire economic crisis, National People’s Power (NPP) leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said.

Dissanayake made this observation joining the debate on the interim budget 2022 in parliament yesterday (2).

For such a union, a new government should be elected via people’s mandate, Dissanayake noted. That new government should be given one or two years to work on a plan to recover the country’s economy, he added.

Dissanayake pointed out that the President does not have the people’s mandate and in fact, he was appointed by a mandate that was given against him. Dissanayake also observed that the government should not treat people as lifeless objects.

“What kind of a government is this? When the VAT was reduced to 8%, these MPs applauded. Now when it was increased to 15%, they applauded that as well. When the retirement age of the government employees was increased to 65, they applauded. Now when it was reversed to 60, they again applauded. When taking over projects like Hambantota port, they again applauded. When these projects are to be sold, they nod in agreement to that as well.

When the government recruited employees they nod in agreement, and when a decision comes to remove public servants, they nod in agreement to that as well. What kind of MPs are you? You have no vision, no policy. You only want to retain power. Can a group like that find solutions for this economic crisis?” Dissanayake questioned.