Opposition trying to undermine IMF bailout programme: Sri Lankan government

The Sri Lankan government on Thursday accused the opposition of trying to undermine the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) crucial bailout program by holding meetings with foreign ambassadors in Colombo. The government claimed that the opposition was diluting the bailout program by requesting the global lender to cooperate in imposing tougher conditions on the aid due to delay in local elections in the country. The Sri Lankan government made the allegation days after the IMF approved a US$2.9 billion bailout package to help the debt-ridden island nation overcome its economic crisis.

Chief Government Whip and Urban Development Minister Prasanna Ranatunga claimed in parliament that in a secret meeting with foreign diplomats, the opposition has requested stricter conditions for when the IMF can start releasing aid. “The opposition has urged foreign ambassadors to delay the IMF’s aid or impose tougher conditions,” Ranatunga said. “Don’t indulge in such activities at a time when people have come out on the streets,” he said.

However, the main opposition Samagi Jana Balavegya (SJB) defended the meeting with foreign ambassadors. He said the opposition had held a meeting with foreign ambassadors to inform them of the Sri Lankan government’s decision to postpone the local council elections. Main opposition leader Sajith Premdas rejected allegations that the meeting with foreign ambassadors was aimed at using internal issues to curtail crucial foreign aid to the country.

According to reports published in local media, India’s Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Vinod Jacob, US Ambassador Julie J Chung and British High Commissioner Sarah Hulton were present at the meeting. According to reports, the current status of various issues related to the island nation was discussed in the meeting. Sri Lanka’s Election Commission announced earlier this month that local council elections in the country will now be held on April 25. Citing various factors related to the economic crisis, the Commission had asked for the postponement of the local body elections of 340 councils to be held on March 9.

In Sri Lanka, which is battling its worst economic crisis since independence from British rule, elections to appoint new administrations for four-year terms in 340 local councils have been postponed several times since March last year. The SJB alleges that President Ranil Wickremesinghe is pressurizing the Finance Minister not to release funds for the local council elections, fearing defeat. In the last local council elections held in 2018, the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna won a majority of councils. However, the party has faced a split amid the deepening economic crisis in the country.

Disclaimer:IndiaTheNews has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.

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