Ranil: Sri Lanka’s unemployment rate ‘will increase by middle of next year’

COLOMBO: “There are no dollars in our commercial banks today. Our banks are in debt,” said former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

In a statement addressing the current economic situation of the country, United National Party (UNP) Leader Wickremesinghe alleged that Sri Lanka’s commercial banks do not have any US dollars.

Wickremesinghe highlighted that Sri Lanka is mired in an economic crisis centered on a foreign exchange deficit and added that present foreign exchange reserves stand at $4 billion.

“After paying $1 billion in bond servicing in the middle of the year, the Treasury has only US $3 billion in reserves left. In addition, the CPC is stuck with US $1.3 billion in unpaid dollar bills,” he said.

Further, it was mentioned that the  total amount of debt the country has to repay is US $4.3 billion. He then asked the question of how the country is to service this debt when reserves stand at $3 billion.

“What will be left in the country’s treasury when the country pays off the $3 billion and more than US $1 billion in installments before the end of the year?” he asked.

According to him, a “known financial crisis” has been created in Sri Lanka.

“The government imposed import restrictions as there was no money to import goods into the country. The farmer was told to buy organic manure. The government is telling farmers to choose organic fertilizers due to lack of funds for them to purchase non-organic fertilizer and for no other reason,” he alleged.

Attention was also drawn to the oil tanker that is currently docked at the Colombo Port, with Wickremesinghe stating that the government is looking for dollars so that they can purchase this oil.

“We don’t have the US dollars to pay for an oil tanker that has docked at the Colombo Port. If you don’t pay dollars, this ship will take the oil that is due here,” he said.

Stating that even a small loan in the short term is not enough to get out of this crisis, Wickremesinghe said that if the government does not have an alternative way of raising money, he suggests that it discusses with the International Monetary Fund to find the money needed to sustain the country’s economy.

“Once we get the IMF certificate, we will be able to get money from countries like India, China and Japan,” he said.

He also predicted that Sri Lanka’s unemployment rate will increase by the middle of next year, resulting in the increased hunger of Sri Lankan people.

Stating that the current financial crisis is a serious issue, Wickremesinghe noted that he looks forward to hearing a debate in Parliament on the same.

“The financial affairs of the country are controlled by Parliament.

“The Central Bank and the Treasury operate under Parliament and not above it.

“Therefore, I request that under the privileges of Parliament a debate be held in regard to this matter,” he said.