Ranil issuing false statements for political gain - Minister Anura Yapa

Mass Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said it is regrettable to note Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe issuing false statements regarding the country’s economy for the sake of petty political gain.

Yapa in a statement issued yesterday said the Government has no need to earn money through the sale of gold reserves held by the Central Bank.

No decision to that effect has been taken either by the Government or the Central Bank. So the Opposition Leader’s statement about a sale of gold reserves is totally false.

Minister Yapa said the total value of financial reserves held by the Government at present stood at over US $4,000 million. The Government possessed adequate funds to finance on-going development programs started by it, to continue subsidies provided to the people without any curtailment and increase job opportunities.

Sri Lanka had earned a name as a genuine and trustworthy customer who was punctual in repayment of loans. Yapa said he wished to remind Ranil Wickremesinghe that the country had to sell its gold reserves only during his (Wickremesinghe’s) 2003-2004 administration which did not implement a single development project or a single new job.