UNP acted according to petty political agenda - Minister Nimal Siripala reacts to the lack of support for the supplementary estimate

COLOMBO (News 1st):- Minister of Justice, Human Rights & Legal Reforms Nimal Siripala De Silva says that a large number of people have been inconvenienced due to the lack of support for the supplementary estimate that was withdrawn in parliament recently. Speaking at an event held in Mahiyanganaya, the Minister said;

"The people have fallen into debt as a result of programs such as Gamperaliya. It is not small rural development groups which have been affected and not large scale contractors. They are facing hardships. So we brought a supplementary estimate to Parliament. In that, we proposed to pay off debts to contractors and to implement development programs. We did not have a majority in Parliament. The UNP did not support us to pass the supplementary estimate. They acted according to a petty political agenda and did not consider to relieve the problems of the public. Therefore, we are frustrated over this decision taken by the UNP."

However, in response to this statement, UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said;

"Funds were allocated until the end of April. They are saying that they do not have money. We had allocated funds for development, education, agriculture, the power sector and for fertilizer. If the government needs money we are ready to fulfill their requirement. However, we will not support moves to increase the debt ceiling of the country."

At another meeting held in Matale, General Secretary of JVP, Tilvin Silva said;

"Sri Lanka's debt repayment amount for 2020 is one trillion. There is no way to pay this. When our Prime Minister and Finance Minister sought a three-year moratorium from India to repay the loans, other countries began to feel that they shouldn't lend us money. Now there are two problems. First, it is a disgrace and secondly, it is an obstacle to obtain loans. Recently, they tried to put forward a Supplementary Estimate before Parliament. That was canceled. It sought to increase the country's debt ceiling and the government's financial strength. They didn't even bring it forward. To avoid being blamed for this situation, they say that they had planned to grant concessions but that the opposition had opposed it. That story is false. They are trying to earn in time for the election."