Sri Lanka’s main opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has issued a clarification on its decision to refrain from engaging in the meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, claiming it had never requested a meeting with the IMF.
Speaking to the media, SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said that the SJB had only requested a meeting with Sri Lanka’s international creditors and not the IMF, as conveyed to the nation through the proposed meeting by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Dr. Harsha de Silva accused the government of attempting to misinterpret his earlier statement by claiming that he requested a meeting between the opposition parties and the IMF.
“This is wrong. I requested a meeting with international creditors to discuss the process of foreign debt restructuring. IMF and international creditors are two separate teams. Why would we discuss with the IMF after the preliminary agreement has already been signed by the government,” he questioned.
MP Harsha de Silva further explained the SJB had requested a meeting with international creditors to ensure that the agreement being made is beneficial and addressable to any future leader elected to power.
“If the newly elected leader fails to carry out the requirements of the agreement made with international creditors at present then Sri Lanka will be pushed into a second economic crisis in the future,” the MP warned.
MP Harsha de Silva reiterated that he had only requested a meeting with international creditors and opposition parties to come to a common consensus on the agreement to be made on foreign debt restructuring. (NewsWire)