The Samagi Jana Balawegaya claims Litro Gas Lanka Limited and several other state corporations are to be handed over to India.
Speaking at a briefing in Colombo, Parliamentarian Ashoka Abeysinghe claimed six new agreements with India were signed today adding the Indian External Affairs Minister was not out of his mind to offer loans to a country that is unable to settle its loans.
MP Abeysinghe said at present, people are in queues in the morning, starve in the evening and in the dark during the night. The MP said a cylinder of laughs gas had increased from Rs.1,650 to Rs. 2,750 and is now Rs. 4,200 and that Litro Gas company will soon follow suit.
The MP also claimed the SJB received information that the supply of Litro gas was also going to be handed over to India. The MP said although the international community and the International Monetary Fund said Sri Lanka’s debt repayments were unsustainable, India was continuing to offer loans.
The MP questioned India’s objectives saying they were not offering loans out of “neighbourly love”. MP Ashoka Abeysinghe added that the loans are being given in return for Sri Lankan assets. He claimed that Sri Lanka’s airspace had already been handed over to India under an agreement and claimed that under a new agreement the Mattala International Airport was being written over to India employing Indian pilots and officers.
He said that under the guise of protection two drones worth USD 29 Million each were being purchased in partnership with India. The MP said although one drone would be offered free of charge, the country would be forced to pay for the other drone.
He also said the protection of Sri Lanka’s marine territory would be done in partnership with India. MP Ashoka Abeysinghe claimed that the MCC, ACSA and SOFA agreements that were signed under the previous regime were now being re-signed under different names.
On a separate note, Parliamentarian Abeysinghe said although the government said it would grant Rs. 5,000 to selected low-income families during the months of April and May, the amount would be insufficient under the current economic situation. The MP said the average Sri Lankan family consists of four members and that Rs 17,500 was required to meet the expenses of one person for a month.
Accordingly, the expenses for one person daily would be in between Rs 500 and Rs. 600. The MP said Rs.70,000 would be necessary for a family of four per month.
The MP said there are six million families in the country and 5.8 Million families were living under economic hardships. The MP questioned what good Rs.5000 per family would be under such a context.
He stated that however it was commendable that at least some money was being offered. MP Abeysinghe claimed the reason behind offering the Rs. 5,000 in May was to convince individuals to show up at May Day Rallies organized by the government.
He charged the government would enforce the notion that the subsidy would not be released if individuals did not participate in the May Day celebrations through Samurdhi officers.
