Sajith slams Ranil’s Red Sea move

Opposition and Samagi Jana Balwegaya leader Sajith Premadasa has said he was surprised by President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s declaration that Sri Lanka would send a warship to the Red Sea to deter Houthi attacks on commercial ships.

Premadasa said that the President’s claim that a warship would be deployed because Houthi attacks caused an increase in the prices of goods here couldn’t be accepted.

The SJB leader said so on Saturday (06), addressing a gathering at Nadagamuwa junior school, Minuwangoda, after declaring open a smart classroom built at a cost of Rs 1 mn. His response was the first from the Opposition after President Wickremesinghe, on 03 Jan., disclosed his directive to the Navy regarding the Red Sea mission.

Premadasa said that the proposed Red Sea deployment should be examined against the backdrop of the pathetic state of the economy and further deterioration in the wake of the increase and expansion of the Value Added Tax (VAT) with effect from 01 Jan., 2024.

“Why should Sri Lanka undertake such a costly military operation at a time when we are unable to meet even the basic requirements of our own citizens,” Premadasa said, urging the government to allow major powers to counter the challenge posed by the Houthis.

Commenting on the rapid increase in the cost of living in the wake of the VAT hike, MP Premadasa found fault with the government for its failure to recover stolen money. Those who robbed the country elected Wickremesinghe as the President in July 2022 and continued to back his agenda, MP Premadasa said. President Wickremesinghe reciprocated by protecting the crooks, the SJB leader alleged.

MP Premadasa said that those who joined the SJB hadn’t been promised any privileges and money. The party funds wouldn’t be used to engineer crossovers, the Opposition Leader said (SF)