Mar 16, Colombo: The State Minister of Finance, Dr. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said In terms of gross national product the country will lose 46 billion rupees earned per day due to the strikes.

He said the damage to education due to the strike is too high to be calculated.

“The gross national product is 16669 billion rupees for the year. When this is divided by 365 days, the gross national product of a day is 46 billion rupees. If there is complete inactivity for one day, 46 billion rupees will be lost from the gross national product per day. Education does not count towards this. It is priceless. If it is not possible to generate that income tomorrow, shouldn’t we think whether these actions are suitable for a country that is trying to stand up or not?'' he said.

The state minister said that what should be done at this moment is to create a country that works rather than strikes and restore the country.

He said that if such baseless strikes are carried out at a time when we are gradually rising as a country by facing all the existing challenges, the country and the economy cannot be prevented from collapsing again.

Mr. Siyambalapitiya pointed out that despite various calamities in the past, nothing given to the public servants has been reduced and every relief that can be given for them will be given at the earliest.