The Samagi Jana Balawegaya claims the decision by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to float the value of the USD to not more than Rs.230 will further increase expenses of low-income earners.
Speaking during a media briefing today, Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne said concessions provided for low-income earners must be tripled.
MP Wickramaratne said the SJB is of the view that low-income earners and those who have no source of income must be protected while increasing the selling rate to the market price.
The Parliamentarian said low-income earners must be targeted when providing adequate relief while also weeding out those who attempt to defraud the government by passing off as low-income earners.
Joining the media briefing, MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said during the past six months the current and former Governor of the Central Bank wasted over USD 1.5 billion by attempting to maintain the selling rate of a USD at Rs.200.
MP de Silva said the country lost a total USD 4 billion with the loss of USD 2.5 billion in income due to arbitrary political decisions.
The Parliamentarian said the CBSL increased interest rates by 1% in an attempt to solve the financial crisis by deprecating the rupee to Rs.230.
He said the value will not remain at Rs.230 as this was not decided by the market.
