Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says, although the President dismissed as a joke the proposal to defer debt repayments until 2028 and to amend the existing IMF agreement until people’s lives and businesses recover from the recent disaster, it is in fact the reality.
He added that instead of saying “ane please,” what should be done at this moment is to engage in discussions with the IMF, other countries, and international financial institutions to obtain relief for debt repayments.
MP Premadasa further said that in this situation, the claim that Sri Lanka will repay foreign debt by 2028 is unrealistic, and that this must be pointed out to the IMF.
Emphasizing that these concerns existed even before the cyclone, and accusing the government of making light of human lives by pleading “ane please”, he urged that the government should stop making jokes with people’s lives, recognize the true reality, and negotiate with financial institutions to secure relief.
The Opposition Leader said that while the President trivialized people’s lives by saying “ane please,” he himself is working to engage with countries around the world to secure assistance for Sri Lanka.
MP Premadasa made these remarks during his visit yesterday (07) to Dompe, one of the areas affected by the disaster, to inspect large‑scale industries.
He noted that many large‑scale industries have been endangered by this disaster, and since these institutions support a large number of people, efforts must be made to rebuild them.
The Opposition Leader added that because these industries are linked to extensive supply chains, they also sustain both small‑scale and broader economic activity, and therefore, programs must be implemented to protect them. (Newswire)