Govt. committed to maintaining essential services despite ongoing crisis – PM

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament that the government is dedicated to keeping essential services, public services, and industries running smoothly during the ongoing crisis. She urged the opposition to help fulfill commitments made for the benefit of the public, as stated by the Prime Minister’s Media Division. In response to a question from MP V. Radhakrishnan, she highlighted many problems in the education sector for the estate community, particularly the shortage of teachers. She mentioned that over 23,000 teachers have been hired to address these gaps as ordered by a court. The Prime Minister added that these concerns are being discussed in meetings held by the Ministry of Education at the district level, and efforts are underway to find quick solutions. Dr. Amarasuriya remarked, “We must focus on our nation's current situation and the challenges we face. After going through a global pandemic, an economic crisis, and a political crisis, Sri Lanka had just started to recover when the current issues arose. During this time, the opposition should think carefully about its responsibilities. Sadly, some opposition members are trying to undermine the government to gain power. They create unnecessary fear among the public by exaggerating problems in governance and diplomacy. Instead of presenting ideas and earning public trust through elections, the opposition seems more interested in grabbing power in any way, even if it harms the country. The same groups that helped lead to the country’s bankruptcy and economic troubles are now trying to remove a democratically elected government to avoid facing the consequences of their past actions. Instead of helping to improve the situation, the opposition appears to be making the crisis worse. Sometimes, their narrow political goals lead to statements that could damage our diplomatic relations.” The Prime Minister stressed that if the opposition wants power, it should pursue it through democratic processes by winning the people's trust in elections. She also pointed out that the current fuel crisis should not be seen as a government failure, as it is linked to the global conflict.