The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the barbarism of neoliberal economic policies, newly-appointed general secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka said on Tuesday.

"Some countries which have high COVID-19 death tolls are those that have propagated neoliberalism, which has turned health into a profitable industry rather than a service," Dr. G. Weerasinghe, who was appointed general secretary of the party on Aug. 30, told Xinhua in an interview.

Dr. Weerasinghe said that countries with strong public health systems like China, Cuba and Sri Lanka were able to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. But some wealthier countries had passed the burden to the working class, while pumping billions of U.S. dollars into government funds to private companies.

Sri Lanka's communist party, which is in an alliance with the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and has one seat in parliament, will struggle against neoliberalism, Dr. Weerasinghe said.

"We are going to kickstart a plan to expand our party membership which is close to 10,000. We are determined to be more active within the working class movement, while working closely with youth, professionals, and intellectuals," he said.

"We are inspired by developments in China, which will probably eradicate poverty by next year. This will be an achievement for all mankind. A developed and powerful China will have a very positive impact on the international communist movement," he said.

Dr. Weerasinghe joined the community party in 1978, and was the party's international secretary until he was unanimously voted to the position of general secretary by the party's central committee, following his nomination by former party leader D.E.W. Gunasekera.

Source:
courtesy of XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

by XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

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