Fmr. Finance Minister Ronnie de Mel asks for more of socialism
Posted on April 12th, 2021

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Former Finance Minister Ronnie de Mel who served in the J.R. Jayewardene government and presented 11 successive budgets said Sri Lanka needs more of socialism if its economy was to survive.

Mr. de Mel who was a pioneer in introducing the open market economy in Sri Lanka made these remarks when Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa called on him to wish him for his 96th birthday recently.

We cannot worship capitalism anymore. The norm today is to earn by hook or by crook. However, what we need is fair play. We need to bring the Buddhist philosophy into the economy. Buddhism teaches fair play more than other faiths. Sri Lanka should be with the poor man. What Sri Lanka needs is equitable growth,” Mr. De Mel was heard telling Mr. Premadasa in the video clip which was released by the opposition Leader’s office.

“We need to bring in a radical change like in 1977. Everyone thought that Sri Lanka was going to crash in the 1970s. However, we changed things. We brought about a new economy. We had good people like late Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake during that time. J. R. Jayewardene was also a good leader,” he said.

Mr. Premadasa invited Mr. De Mel to advise Samagi Jana Balawegaya on the economy. He agreed but said he would not do it in a political manner. “My policy is to uplift the country. If I have changed political parties in the past I have done it for the sake of the country,” Mr. De Mel said. (Yohan Perera)

2 Responses to “Fmr. Finance Minister Ronnie de Mel asks for more of socialism”

  1. dingiri bandara Says:

    Sad to say that it is the radical changes in 1977, started ruining this country. Liberal imports ruined the Jaffna farmers. The market was flooded with unnecessary imports. even Wesak lanterns( Kudu ) were imported. The country was beginning to get, I believe , self sufficient before 1977. in many food items. Advice to Mr Ronnie de Mel, you are now retired. Stay retired. You don’t have advice the present politicians how to ruin it further. They know it too well.

  2. dingiri bandara Says:

    Sad to say that it is the radical changes in 1977, that started ruining this country. Liberal imports ruined the Jaffna farmers. The market was flooded with unnecessary imports. even Wesak lanterns( Kudu ) were imported. The country was beginning to get, I believe , self sufficient before 1977. in many food items. Advice to Mr Ronnie de Mel, you are now retired. Stay retired. You don’t have advice the present politicians how to ruin the i further. They know it too well.
    As regards to the total ban of Palm oil which, I believe is not carcinogenic, as it is claimed, if properly used. It should still be imported if it meets with proper standards as we are not self sufficient in edible oils. Palm oil is used all over the world in many food items. It is banned , I believe in the Uk and the EU because of deforestation and alleged use of forced labour. As regard to uprooting of the oil palm, it must be said that acre per acre , palm trees give better yield. It must be done very carefully and systematically. When once they are gone they are gone. No new plantations should not be allowed.

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