National Council : Digital platform for people’s opinion on economic stabilization

October 13, 2022 at 4:51 PM

A digital platform will be set up to receive people’s opinions for the National Council’s sub-committee on identifying short and medium-term programs related to economic stabilization, Chairman of the Committee MP Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

The Parliament of Sri Lanka said MP Ranawaka made the announcement when the sub-committee convened in Parliament today to receive the opinions of experts.

Officials of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Finance, and Prof. Rohan Samarajeeva were present at this meeting where the current debt situation of the country and possible policy situations in dealing with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were discussed.

The Superintendent and Registrar of the Public Debt Department of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. M. Z. M. Aazim said there will be some comforting change in the existing situation by January.

The attention of the committee was drawn to the social pressure caused by maintaining the rupee against the dollar, increasing taxes, and imposing import restrictions in order to stabilize the economy. The committee also paid attention to the social problems caused by the collapse of small and medium-scale industries, high unemployment, increase in poverty, etc.

MP Patali Champika Ranawaka informed the Ministry of Finance and the Department of Census and Statistics to take the necessary steps to conduct the survey of families in Sri Lanka immediately. 

He also mentioned that since this survey has not been conducted for a period of three years, it will be more appropriate to understand the prevailing social situation and prepare future policies by conducting the survey.

The committee has also planned to submit a detailed report in December that includes proposals related to debt stabilization and various areas that are under pressure in some way due to the government’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.

State Minister Sisira Jayakodi, MP M. Rameswaran, and the Assistant Secretary General of Parliament Tikiri Jayathilaka were also present during the discussion. (NewsWire)