• Harsha criticises NPP’s economic policy-strategy ‘vacillation’ 

The main Parliamentary Opposition Party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), expressed their commitment to building an economy-based on social democratic principles, marking a shift from the liberal and socialist frameworks that they claim have consistently failed.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday (31 July), SJB Parliamentarian Kabir Hashim outlined the Party's vision for a developed economy under an SJB-led Government, emphasising a dual focus on revenue generation and distribution. 

“We believe in social democratic policies rather than depending solely on liberalism, which has failed just as socialism has,” Hashim stated. He also highlighted the necessity of crafting an economic model tailored to the specific needs of Sri Lanka, rather than adopting policies from other countries without modification. He further stated the need of a strategic approach to economic governance, prioritising both the creation of wealth and its fair allocation among citizens, claiming that this approach aims to address long-standing economic disparities and promote inclusive growth.

Additionally, SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva criticised the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People's Power (NPP), also of the Parliamentary Opposition, for their purportedly inconsistent economic policies. Dr. de Silva accused the NPP of lacking a uniform economic strategy, with divergent views within the Party's ranks. 

“The NPP does not have a uniform economic policy. Members of the Party hold different views, and the Economic Council often presents policies that contradict the Party Leader's statements. Even the Leader himself has different views on different occasions,” Dr. de Silva asserted.