Govt wants elections, but facing adverse economic situation: Bandula

Despite facing a severe financial crisis, the government wants to go ahead with the upcoming local council elections, Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunewardena said.

Minister Gunewardena said the Treasury is currently facing a deep financial crisis and this has been informed to the Courts by the Treasury Secretary.  

“The previous government printed money but this has been prohibited by the International Monetary Fund. Until the debt restructuring process is completed all foreign aid-related development work has come to a complete halt,” he said at the weekly Cabinet briefing today(14). 

He said road development work including the construction of expressways, flyovers, bridges and upgrading of city/ rural roads has been paused until the debt restructuring is finalised.

“Public is facing inconveniences due to incomplete road construction work. The construction of the Getambe and Kohuwela flyovers is currently stalled causing heavy traffic. We cannot move ahead without government funds and foreign aid halted until our previous loans are settled,” he said.

The Minister said President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed the Cabinet to use income generated by the state in February only to address malnourishment especially among children.