(UTV | COLOMBO) – Sri Lanka is currently going through the worst economic crisis since gaining their independence in 1948 and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe believes that it is the fault of the previous governments and the politicians.
In an exclusive interview with WION’s Managing Editor Palki Sharma, Wickremesinghe called it a “man-made economic crisis” and pointed out that the politicians in the country need to come together and change in order to rectify the current situation.
“There is a man-made economic crisis. The politicians they say and certainly the governments that were in power earlier.”
”I think most in the government carried on. Not only previous government, but the politicians are also responsible.”
“Yes, in a way we have to admit we all have the responsibility for the downfall of the system, and we should change now.”
”That is the challenge to all our members of parliament, that you are willing to change or not. Some are, others are not.”
”So, the politics of Sri Lanka will be decided by those who are willing to change and come a new and those who are not,” Wickremesinghe said.
He also explained that Sri Lanka is open to loans from both donors as well as private investors and they will also be discussing the situation with India and China.
“We have to take restructuring loans both from the donors as well as the private investors. In case of the donors, we have to ensure, all of them agree to the restructuring program.”
”Because only Japan is in the Paris club. China and India are out of the Paris Club. We got to get agreement. Matter has been taken up. I have not discussed it yet but will be discussing with China.”
”There has been no response so far. Because Ambassador to Beijing is also discussing it with the government there,” he explained.
“I am not a CEO [appointed by the Rajapaksas]; I am a Prime Minister… I am an Independent Prime Minister… ”
”There is no interference [from Gotabaya Rajapaksa], if there are any differences, we have to sort it out in the cabinet”, Wickremesinghe said, adding that indeed “there are differences of opinion”.
The Prime Minister said President Rajapaksa will be bringing in the 21st Amendment that empowers Parliament over the executive President.
“There were earlier (sic) disagreements [on the 21st Amendment] within the ruling party, but this [agreement] was finally brought in… so far there has been no adverse reaction.”
The Prime Minister said he believes that Rajapaksa’s party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will be on board, and he’s certainly the President too. “It was still to his advantage, not to his disadvantage”, Wickremesinghe remarked.
About President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister said, “he has publicly taken the blame, not once but twice, he’s not leaving office, you can’t throw him out of office… Under the proposals put by the bi-associations, there is no need for him [Gotabaya Rajapaksa] to leave office.”
The six-time Prime Minister said that his current stint is “the most-challenging job I’ve ever had… someone had to take up the challenge to put the country’s economy into order”.
The Sri Lankan Prime Minister said, “stabilization and recovery will take about 18 months”, adding that the road ahead will include consensus-driven economic proposals, and 21st Amendment.