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Finalise food, fuel purchase on Indian credit: Ranil Wickremesinghe

28 Dec 2021

  • Ranil advises Govt., warning of food shortage by April 
  • Claims local crop harvest down 40% year-on-year 
  BY Buddhika Samaraweera  Former Prime Minister and incumbent United National Party (UNP) Leader and Parliamentarian Ranil Wickremesinghe has called on the Government to finalise the purchase of food and fuel on credit from India, which is currently under discussion as there will inevitably be a food shortage in the country by the coming Sinhala and Hindu New Year festive season. Making a statement to the media yesterday (28), he said that by the time of the upcoming Sinhala and Hindu New Year festive season, there will inevitably be a food shortage in the country, adding that this year’s harvest from crops in many areas was only 60% of last year’s harvest. “Think about the political background we would have to face if such a situation arises. In such a situation, there will be an eruption among the furious general public. It affects both the Government and the Parliament. Therefore, in order to develop the country, the occurrence of such a situation must be prevented,” he noted. Claiming that the Government is currently in talks with India to buy fuel and food on credit, Wickremesinghe said that those talks should be concluded and the relevant agreements finalised. “Borrowing or borrowing goods will not solve the current foreign exchange crisis in the country, but I urge the Government to implement the programme of purchasing food and oil on credit, at least to get temporary relief.”  The former Premier also commented on the US dollar (USD) crisis in the country. He said that the dollar deficit was now “severe” and that businesses were collapsing, the middle class was deteriorating, and that jobs were being lost as a result. Therefore, he said that the Government should take immediate action to address these issues. “Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of countries have shown economic progress in 2020/2021, and we need to therefore address these issues.”  Meanwhile, following some controversial remarks regarding a possible food shortage in the country in the future, Ministry of Agriculture Secretary Prof. Udith K. Jayasinghe-Mudalige was removed from the post on 22 December. Speaking to the media, he stated that there is a possibility of a food shortage due to the crisis situation in the country.


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