News Today: Former Minister Udaya Gammanpila Accuses Government of Record-Breaking Debt Amidst Loan Denials

Former Minister Udaya Gammanpila accused the Government of dishonesty, claiming they secured loans, printed money, and misled the public. Gammanpila demanded transparency on a USD 200 million World Bank loan, contradicting Cabinet spokesman Minister Vijitha Herath’s statement that the government hadn’t borrowed from any organization.

Gammanpila urged the public to check the World Bank’s official website to verify the claim, challenging the Government to clarify who’s being truthful—Herath or the World Bank. According to Gammanpila, Rs. 958.75 billion was borrowed through Treasury Bills and bonds in just one month, adding Rs. 43,600 in debt per citizen. “When this government assumed office, the national debt was Rs. 306,000 million,” he noted. At this rate, he warned, the country’s debt could set a Guinness World Record within five years.

Additionally, Gammanpila rejected Herath’s claim that no money was printed, referencing the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL) confirmation of recent currency printing to buy foreign exchange and stabilize liquidity. He cautioned the public about the government’s actions, urging them to question if such practices are sustainable in the long run.