People must be aware of country's challenges: Sajith

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that Sri Lanka is currently facing significant challenges and pressures, and citizens must have a realistic and truthful understanding of the issues and difficulties confronting the nation.
He stated that many people have been misled and deceived due to a lack of awareness and a failure to understand the true nature of the problems facing the country.
The Opposition Leader made these remarks today (25) while attending a public event held in Ratnapura.
Premadasa said the country faces challenges across economic and social sectors and warned that if these conditions are not managed properly, the silent majority of citizens who already struggle with hardship will suffer the most.
He pointed to rapidly rising food and non-food inflation, declining foreign reserves, increasing prices of imported goods and fuel, higher electricity bills, and a downturn in the tourism sector.
He also noted that although foreign remittances have increased due to Sri Lankans working abroad, an escalation of conflict in the Middle East could reduce those inflows. He added that Sri Lanka remains at a low level in exports and is not attracting sufficient foreign direct investment.
Premadasa further said that even tea-growing and farming communities are struggling to receive adequate fertiliser, while available fertiliser is often of poor quality and subject to price fluctuations.
He emphasised that all citizens have a responsibility to understand global developments and their impact on Sri Lanka. He warned that if the country does not maintain foreign reserves sufficient to cover three months of imports, serious difficulties could arise.
According to Premadasa, although Sri Lanka currently holds around US$7 billion in reserves, only about US$5.8 billion is usable, while the country requires around US$6 billion to cover three months of imports, based on a monthly import cost of US$2 billion.
He argued that greater public awareness would make it harder for either the government or the opposition to mislead the people.
The Opposition Leader also warned that future fuel price increases could create major economic difficulties. He noted that during the bankruptcy period, Octane 92 petrol reached Rs. 470 per litre, compared to around Rs. 410 now, and cautioned that another price increase could have serious consequences.
Premadasa added that poverty in the country has risen to around 30-40 percent, warning that worsening poverty would increase public frustration, weaken productivity, and undermine Sri Lanka’s prospects for progressive development.