• Foreign reserves gone down to $4.5Bn
• People will have to forego one meal a day 

By Yohan Perera 

If the present economic crisis continues, the people of Sri Lanka will have to forego one meal a day while it will lose everything it gained after the introduction of the open economy, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday. 

Speaking during a meeting with some youth in Borella, Mr. Wickremesinghe said it will take a decade for the Sri Lankan economy to bounce back. 

“The businesses lay off their staff as they have begun running at a loss. This will continue in 2022 as well. It will take a decade for the economy to bounce back. Households are already suffering. We during our government laid a good foundation. We improved health services. 

I am sad as the programme, which we launched during our regime to pay the debts and to revive the economy has ended up in shambles. I am worried as the country might lose what it gained after the introduction of the open economy after 1977.