5 January 2022 09:42 am Views - 168
By Sandun A. Jayasekera
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would assign cabinet ministers before the next cabinet meeting on Monday to start talks with Sri Lanka’s friendly countries, and global financial institutions to obtain aid from them to get through the current economic and foreign exchange crisis, Co-Cabinet spokesman, Mass Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said yesterday.
There are so many countries and international financial agencies willing to help Sri Lanka. That is why President Rajapaksa suggested to the cabinet on Monday to obtain their help. Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and Treasury Secretary Mr. S.R. Atygalle are expected to brief the cabinet on this matter with an agenda, he added.
The economic relief package costing Rs. 229 billion to the Treasury proposed by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and approved in-toto by the cabinet on Monday was aimed at providing some breathing space for the low income families, public servants, farmers and Samurdhi beneficiary families, he added.
“The government is also in a major financial crunch. But we are aware of the difficulties faced by the people, mainly those low income families, self-employed, farmers and public servants. The financial assistance is for the time being to ride out the current difficult period. We expect 2022 would be a better year for all of us with no restrictions,” Minister Alahapperuma stressed.
Co-Cabinet spokesman, Plantation Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said the government had to take several austerity measures and restrict certain imports, but all these steps were taken to minimise the burden on the economy and thereby mitigate the negative consequences to the people.
“We expect increased remittances from Sri Lankans working overseas, better tourist arrivals and enhanced export revenue. All three sectors have recorded good performances in the last two months and we hope further improvement in 2022, enabling the government to relax import restrictions and provide more relief to the people gradually,” Minister Dr. Pathirana noted.