Former Deputy Leader of the United National Party, MP Ravi Karunanayake, says that although the country faced economic challenges during UNP-led administrations, those governments prioritised relief for the public.
Speaking to the media, Karunanayake said past governments took deliberate steps to ease the cost of living and support vulnerable groups.
He pointed to reductions in essential commodity prices, including cooking gas, sugar, dhal, and rice, as well as fuel price adjustments during that period.
Karunanayake also highlighted measures such as price controls on key consumer goods, the introduction of insurance coverage for school students, and interest-free loan schemes for university students.
In addition, he noted that benefits were extended to senior citizens through interest incentives, while small and medium-sized enterprises were supported with low-interest loan schemes to stabilise the economy.
He said these measures demonstrate that governments can take meaningful steps to provide relief during times of crisis, adding that such actions give him the confidence to speak on current economic issues.
