People unable to afford three meals under NPP government, says Namal Rajapaksa

Under the NPP government that came to power on the promise of building a "rich country", a situation where the people of the country are unable to eat three meals a day arose, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa said.

The MP said this while addressing a constituency meeting of the party held in the Ampara Higurana area yesterday (15).

Speaking further, Namal Rajapaksa said that under the current administration, the people dropped below where they used to be and are unable to make ends meet.

Speaking further on this occasion, Namal Rajapaksa also said:

"Back then, the farmer farmed happily. A guaranteed price was given for paddy. Fertiliser was given at 350 rupees each for ten years. It was given for free for two years. What happened today? There is no guaranteed price for paddy. Rice is imported from abroad. Maize is imported from abroad. By today, the paddy farmer and the maize farmer became completely helpless. A bag of fertiliser became 19,000 rupees.

The Higurana Sugar Factory located on the other side of this place was closed for 15 years and we were the ones who started it. In those days, this institution made profits. Employees gave bonuses to farmers. What happened today? Today there are no bonuses for employees. The sugar in this institution cannot be sold. They import sugar from abroad through their close associates. Spirits cannot be sold. The institution runs on losses. This government does not think about these institutions.

Foreign countries reduce oil prices. Our government increases oil prices. To cover up their fraud and corruption, they pass it onto the people. Inferior coal was brought. Not just one ship, but many ships were brought. To cover up the inferior coal, the ships brought also became inferior. Money is paid to wrong accounts. After that, the government says a hacker jumped in. The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance must take responsibility along with the Minister of Finance. The Minister of Finance is the current President. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna has a vision to build our country. We are ready with youth power to build this country according to a plan."

Ven. Itthekande Saddhatissa Thero, former Parliamentarian Tissa Kuttiarachchi, former Parliamentarian Dr Thilak Rajapaksa, former Parliamentarian W. D. Weerasinghe, and former Chairman of the Damana Pradeshiya Sabha and current MP Mangala Mahinda Gunawardhana spoke at this event. Podujana Peramuna Operational Director and former Minister Johnston Fernando, and former Minister Indika Anuruddha also attended this event.