Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has charged that the present government has gone beyond even the IMF agreement signed by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, pursuing what he described as an “extreme right‑wing neoliberal program” under National People’s Power leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Speaking at a public rally in Pannala, Premadasa said both the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the National People’s Power (NPP) had pledged during the last election campaign to revise the IMF agreement, which he claimed imposed heavy burdens on the country.
However, he alleged that the NPP, now in government, has abandoned those promises and moved further right than Wickremesinghe’s deal.
Premadasa accused the government of becoming “a pet of the IMF,” stating that it has imposed taxes beyond IMF requirements.
He highlighted that while the IMF agreement stipulated a primary balance of 2.3, the government has raised it to 5.4, burdening citizens with “tax upon tax.”
He further noted that although IMF targets set state revenue at 13.9, the government has pushed it to 15.4, cutting capital expenditure to meet those figures. He said this approach amounted to striking “the IMF’s whip” and subjecting the people to excessive pressure.
Premadasa also alleged that the government is attempting to silence the opposition and exert undue influence on the judiciary.
He charged that the administration, which came to power promising to abolish the executive presidency, is now undermining democracy by trying to turn the judiciary into a government tool.
He pointed to unfilled vacancies in the Supreme Court and efforts to extend the retirement age of judges as examples of interference.
“The government, which deceived the people with lies, fraud, and trickery, is now destroying the democratic structure by attempting to influence the judiciary, the main pillar of democracy,” Premadasa said. (Newswire)