News
‘Parliamentary approval irrelevant, President played politics with issue’
Vote on IMF facility likened to death certificate for a buried man
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said that their decision to skip the vote on the ‘Resolution’ for the implementation of the arrangement under the EFF (Extended Fund Facility) of the International Monetary Fund for Sri Lanka shouldn’t be construed as a rejection of the agreement with the IMF.
The chief of SJB’s economic management team said so when The Island sought his explanation for failing to back the agreement with the IMF, having repeatedly urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government to seek IMF intervention.
Of the 80 lawmakers who skipped Friday’s vote, the majority belonged to the SJB, the main Opposition party.
Pressed to explain what some called the SJB’s dubious stand, the former UNPer and State Minister said his party strongly opposed certain clauses in the IMF agreement, regardless of the appreciation of Washington headquartered lending agency’s intervention. Asked to explain, Dr. de Silva said that on behalf of the SJB, he had told IMF representatives that a future SJB-led administration would definitely seek to alter those disputable sections.
The resolution received the backing of 120 MPs, whereas 25 voted against it. Three Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) MPs and rebel SLPP MPs voted against the resolution. Three SLPP MPs, who have distanced from the government parliamentary group, namely John Seneviratne, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, threw their weight behind the agreement, whereas the TNA and the SLFP, too, skipped the vote.
The vote was taken electronically, on 28 April, on the third and final date of the debate.
Dr. de Silva stressed that the agreement with the IMF did not require parliamentary approval at all. Alleging that President Ranil Wickremesinghe sought to exploit the situation to the advantage of his government, Dr. de Silva likened the parliamentary approval for the IMF agreement to obtaining a death certificate for a buried man.
Pointing out that Sri Lanka, over a period of time, sought IMF interventions, on 16 occasions, Dr. de Silva said that no previous government did make a song and dance about seeking such assistance.
Emphasizing the vital importance in securing IMF assistance, amounting to USD 2.9 bn, over a period of four years, the Colombo District MP said that the SJB never wanted to sabotage the process. The Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government could have sought a consensus with the Opposition before finalizing the Staff Level agreement with the IMF, on 01 September, last year. Unfortunately, even after that the government quite conveniently kept the Opposition out of the process and the situation remained the same till the IMF Executive Board approved the loan on 20 March, 2023, Dr. De Silva said.
Why on earth a three-day debate is held to discuss a finalized agreement, lawmaker de Silva asked, pointing out that Sri Lanka has received the first tranche immediately after the IMF Executive Board’s approval.
Responding to further questions, the economist said that the IMF agreement, now in operation, essentially focused on stabilizing the economy. However, Sri Lanka needs economic stability, plus growth, the former Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) said.
Lawmaker de Silva said that 36% tax rate on personal income and corporate profit tax of 30% on exporters weren’t acceptable. “We’ll certainly initiate negotiations with the IMF in this regard,” the one-time Wickremesinghe’s deputy, during the Yahapalana, administration said.
The MP expressed the belief that the government could have secured much better agreement if Sri Lanka’s proposals were presented, after having reached an understanding with major political parties represented in Parliament.
A discussion between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and senior officials of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) was held this afternoon (18) at the Presidential Secretariat.
The meeting focused extensively on new development projects planned by the Urban Development Authority. The President emphasised the need to ensure that the budgetary allocations made for these projects in the current year are utilised effectively within the same financial year.
Detailed discussions were also held on projects planned to be implemented jointly by multiple institutions, including the importance of holding consultations with all relevant agencies to reach final decisions and the need to clearly define responsibilities for each institution in both implementation and maintenance phases of the projects.
Attention was drawn to key initiatives such as the Kelani River flood control project, water management projects in Colombo city and the Beira Lake restoration project. The need for a dedicated programme for low-income housing in areas such as Ratmalana and Moratuwa was also highlighted. During the discussion, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake underscored the importance of introducing a structured management framework for the effective coordination of certain projects.
Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Eranga Gunasekara, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Senior Professor Kapila C.K. Perera, Chairman of the Urban Development Authority (UDA), M.G. Hemachandra and the Heads representing the Urban Settlement Development Authority (USDA), Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLDC), National Physical Planning Department (NPPD) and the Condominium Management Authority (CMA) were also present at the meeting.
(PMD)
News
CEAT Kelani Branch Inter-Company Employees’ Union makes donation to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
The Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the Kelaniya Branch of CEAT Sri Lanka has made a financial donation of Rs. 1,148,000.00, a day’s salary of its members to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund established to support the restoration of livelihoods and the rebuilding of areas affected by cyclone Ditwah.
Secretary of the Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the CEAT Kelani Branch, D.G.S.D. Navaratne, handed over the donation to the Chief of Staff to the President, Prabhath Chandrakeerthi at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (18).
Treasurer of the Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the CEAT Kelani Branch, Y.P.I.C. Karunathilaka, together with members of the Executive Committee, were also present on the occasion.
(PMD)
Latest News
Prime Minister off to the United Kingdom to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed on an official visit to the United Kingdom to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) 2026 Board of Governors Meeting.
During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to participate in several high-level academic and diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fields of education, development studies, research collaboration, and international partnerships.
As part of the visit, the Prime Minister will meet with Ms.Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education of the United Kingdom, at the UK Department for Education, to discuss areas of cooperation in education and related sectors. She is also expected to meet Ms.Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, for discussions on matters of bilateral interest and cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.
In addition, the Prime Minister is expected to meet Ms.Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, on the sidelines of the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) 2026 Board of Governors Meeting.
During the visit, the Prime Minister will attend a public event at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex and she will also take part in the ceremony marking the 60th Anniversary of the Institute of Development Studies. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address a session at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies at the University of Oxford, followed by a question-and-answer session with scholars and students.
The visit is expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s engagement with academic institutions, international development partners, and Commonwealth member states, particularly in the areas of education, research, policy dialogue, and capacity building.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
President meets senior officials of the Urban Development Authority
CEAT Kelani Branch Inter-Company Employees’ Union makes donation to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
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Prime Minister off to the United Kingdom to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum
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