The government says baseless allegations by the opposition that several state banks have defaulted, will continue to tarnish Sri Lanka’s image before the international community.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, State Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said all citizens must take on the responsibility of seeking solutions to the present economic crisis.
The State Minister said steps must be taken to overcome challenges and to reach decisions that will help achieve this goal.
However, he charged the opposition of exploiting all issues in the country at present and using Parliament to pursue personal agendas and of creating false notions.
Joining the debate State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said the opposition charged that the US dollar was buying at between Rs.250-260 and why the dollar wasn’t floated instead.
State Minister Semasinghe said when the dollar was floated the opposition now questions as to why the dollar was floated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
He accused the opposition of constantly making contradictory statements even during lockdowns amidst the height of the coronavirus pandemic and during the COVID-vaccination drive.
Meanwhile, the opposition addressing Parliament yesterday repeatedly highlighted the fact that Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa failed to appear in Parliament for over three months.
Minister Rajapaksa however arrived in the chamber during the final Parliamentary session yesterday(24), following which a heated situation broke out.
Addressing the House MP Lakshman Kiriella sought to question the Minister over the financial situation in the country and the agreements reached with India during Minister Rajapaksa’s recent travels to India.
However, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe responded to the MP’s question leading to an uproar from the opposition.
MP Niroshan Perera taking the floor said they didn’t raise questions to receive a response from the State Minister of Finance at a time when the subject Minister is present in Parliament.
The opposition demanded the Finance Minister to respond to queries.
MP Kiriella said the Finance Minister has a responsibility towards Parliament as he last addressed the House on the 10th of December.
The MP said they have learned that the Minister handed over Sri Lanka’s Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm to India during this recent visit and sought to know its truth.
