Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe has said the National People’s Power (NPP) government has turned an economically bankrupt country into one that ensures social welfare.
He said Sri Lanka’s recovery has surprised people not only at home but also internationally.
Abeysinghe made the remarks as chief guest at the Central and Sabaragamuwa provincial awards ceremonies, held alongside the National Productivity Awards.
He said that when the government brings in laws and regulations for social welfare, some organised groups act against it.
Abeysinghe said certain groups are organising protests against the government in the hope of political gain. He said the public had asked the government to create a country that upholds law and fairness.
Background
Sri Lanka declared a pre-emptive default on its foreign debt in April 2022 during its worst economic crisis in decades. The NPP, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, won power in the election of November 2024.
The statement is the Deputy Minister’s own assessment, and critics and supporters of the government differ on how far the recovery has reached ordinary households.
What it means
The remarks show how the government describes its welfare agenda as it proposes new laws. Readers should note that the Deputy Minister did not name the groups he accused of organising protests, and the facts supplied give no detail of the laws he referred to.
