PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA
CANCEL THE NATIONAL DEBT, SANCTION THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT AND IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL RELIEF
Sri Lanka is facing the worst economic crisis in history due to corrupt leadership of the Rajapakse family. There is a national uprising – today Sri Lanka enters its 102nd day of national protest. The international attention on Sri Lanka highlights the instability of the capitalist system and is a perfect example of the period of global financial crisis.
There are startling parallels between Ireland and Sri Lanka: Irish inflation has climbed to 7-8%. In Sri Lanka inflation is over 39%.
In the last 6 months, diesel prices have jumped up to over 230% and petrol has gone up by over 137 percent. In Ireland in the last year diesel is 40% higher, while petrol is 24% higher. According to UNICEF Sri Lanka, 70% of households have reduced food consumption and one in two children require emergency assistance. The country has shortages of fuel, food, medicine, and daily power cuts. Austerity measures have led to this crisis and will further exacerbate it.
The Rajapakse family have been responsible for centralising power within the executive, militarising the state, implementing disastrous economic and environmental policy, and pursuing racist and nationalist narratives. The includes the president, prime minister and the finance minister have been stealing billions in public money from the Sri Lankan people for decades.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse has resigned along with all 26 members of cabinet as a result of mass mobilisations and public pressure. However, Gotabaya Rajapaksa remains as President and refuses to step down. Nothing will change until the President steps down; all members of the national government assume responsibility for the economic crisis and debt is cancelled and unconditional financial assistance.
People Before Profit unequivocally condemn the ongoing persecution of protestors by Sri Lankan authorities. We call on allies to stand with the people of Sri Lanka and support their demands for the unconditional and immediate cancellation of all debt. We call for humanitarian aid and medical supplies to be sent directly to hospitals and community centres to bypass the corrupt government.