By: Aswathy Nair
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has asserted they cannot let the COVID health crisis develop into an economic crisis. In a meeting with Central bank officials last evening, the President said many tools have been introduced by the Central Banks in the countries around the world but Sri Lanka has not received such a positive response from its central bank.
Mr. Rajapaksa said the government will have to take the blame for the economic slowdown due to this serious negligence on the part of the Central bank. He exhorted central bank officials not to shirk responsibility and let him know the correct strategy.
Pointing out the massive mandate he received from the people, the President lamented that the Central bank has obstructed the implementation of the proposals made by him. His comments came as Sri Lanka has been witnessing slowdown in economic growth even before the COVID crisis while the debt liability has risen putting the currency under pressure.
