Sri Lankan MP and former minister Patali Champika Ranawaka berated the country’s Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, blaming him for the island nation’s economic crisis saying his clan robbed the island nation.
“Rajapaksa clan robbed this country. During their tenure from 2004 to 2014, they siphoned off USD 19 billion as per various reports. They got a huge amount of money from international financial markets and now we’re in serious problem to repay these loans,” Champika told ANI.
He further alleged that the members of Rajapaksa’s family have fled the country and are now enjoying their private jets and yachts.
“That’s true. Rajapaksas’ members, spouses, children, and others have left the country and they are enjoying their private jets, and yachts at the expense of our children’s future. The new generation is very angry with these people,” the former Sri Lankan minister said.
Sri Lanka is battling a severe economic crisis with food and fuel scarcity affecting a large number of the people in the island nation. The economy has been in a free-fall since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several people had on Wednesday protested outside the residence of Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa amid the ongoing unrest in the island nation. Anti-government protests continue to take place in the island nation, demanding solutions to the current economic crisis.
