Oct 09, Colombo: The Marxist party of Sri Lanka Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) likened the Sri Lankan government to a "gambling father who breaks open the child's till to gamble," and called for a massive agitation to defeat such state affairs of wasting public money.

Speaking at a press conference held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatta Monday (8th), the General Secretary of the party Tilvin Silva said while the economy of the country is dwindling, the government is gambling with the people's money in high risk investments.

"What exists is a government that is irresponsible or doesn't care about the people. Hence, it burdens the masses with various taxes, obtains loans from commercial banks on high interest and gamble with these funds," he said.

Silva accused the government of using Employee's Provident Fund (EPF) money to gamble in the share market.

Further explaining the charge, the JVP General Secretary said the government's investments of Rs.60 billion in 64 companies have come down to Rs.48 billion on the 20th June and the share market on those investments is still falling.

He further noted that all the money invested in Greek Government Bonds has been lost. Silva criticized the officials for investing public funds in Greek Government Bonds when Greece was facing a financial crisis and having massive deficits.

According to Silva, President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal cannot be allowed to continue to waste public money in this type of gambling.

The JVP General Secretary called the public to launch a massive mass agitation to defeat the government's state of affairs and said the JVP is prepared to give leadership to such agitations.

"We have already taken measures to awaken people for this task," he said.