Patali Champika Ranawaka, MP and leader of the United Republic Front, urged presidential candidates last dayto elucidate their stances on the IMF’s Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) and to announce any modifications they would like to see.
At a press conference held at the URF office in Colombo, Ranawaka chastised opposition leaders who are anticipated to contest in the upcoming presidential election for expressing differing opinions about the IMF bailout package for Sri Lanka across the nation.
“What adjustments to the IMF deal will you make?” Champika queries candidates for president”
“The IMF developed a DSA, the initial stage of debt restructuring, at the onset of the crisis. The amount of debt relief required to restore sustainability is determined by this analysis. These candidates for president now talk about the IMF during campaign events. Some condemn Sri Lanka’s agreement with the IMF, while others promise to change the debt restructuring agreement if elected.
All of this is empty talk and rhetoric. It’s time for them to state exactly which parts of the DSA they would reject and disagree with. Opponents of the DSA must be very clear about where they stand on the agreement, as the government has already committed to the agreement and its terms, stressed Ranawaka.
He issued a warning, saying that political leaders are misguided if they think that people will vote for them despite their hollow promises. “People have grown from their previous errors. For instance, Mahinda Rajapaksa promised to retake the Hambantota Port from China following the formation of the SLPP in May 2017, and other leaders made similar promises regarding the Trincomalee Tank Farm. But after they came into power, none of these promises came to pass, as noted by Ranawaka.
During the press conference, URF Chairman Dr. Ajith Amarasinghe and General Secretary Bandula Chandrasekera also gave speeches.
