News
FSP lambasts Budget as extension of IMF austerity agenda at the expense of people
Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Pubudu Jayagoda has strongly criticised the 2025 Budget, presented by President Anura Dissanayaka, calling it an extension of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) austerity agenda and a continuation of Ranil Wickremesinghe’s economic policies.
“When President Dissanayaka arrived in Parliament to present the Budget, he carried it in a paper folder instead of the traditional briefcase. The truth is, there are no ‘secrets’ in this Budget that require a briefcase—it simply presents the same austerity programme imposed on Sri Lanka by the IMF and follows the policies that defined Wickremesinghe’s rule over the past few years,” Jayagoda said.
Jayagoda argued that Wickremesinghe had previously served as the “mouthpiece” for the IMF and global financial institutions and Dissanayaka was now playing that role. “Even without Ranil, his policies continue to move forward,” Jayagoda added, drawing parallels between Sri Lanka’s political landscape and Britain’s neoliberal shift under Margaret Thatcher. “After Thatcher retired, a journalist asked her about her greatest political achievement.
She replied, ‘Tony Blair and Blairism.’ The Labour Party, which once fought against neoliberalism, later embraced it under Blair’s leadership. The same has happened here—Harsha de Silva, a key advocate of neoliberal capitalism and an IMF supporter, openly stated that Dissanayaka’s Budget speech was a victory for them,” Jayagoda said.
He noted that in 1978, when the UNP introduced its neoliberal economic agenda, its strongest critic had been the JVP. “Now, the IMF programme is being carried out by the JVP’s leader. This is their greatest success—getting the Opposition to implement their policies,” he said.
Condemned the government’s failure to address the cost-of-living crisis, Jayagoda said: “This Budget offers no solutions for rising prices. People are not naive enough to mistake these token handouts for genuine relief. Instead of discussing serious economic policies, the government is busy distributing small allowances—Rs. 5,000 to one, Rs.7,500 to another—while the structural issues remain unaddressed. This economic programme must be defeated. People must organise and push back before these policies cause further damage to the country.”
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is on an official visit to Paris, France to participate in the high-level segment of the International Expert Conference on ’An Integrated and Sustainable Approach to Safeguarding the World Heritage Property of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and Associated Living Heritage’ which was to be held at UNESCO Headquarters today [Tuesday 1 April], with the participation of the Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay.
The Conference, organized by UNESCO in partnership with Sri Lanka, brings together leading international experts to discuss sustainable strategies for the conservation of Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of immense cultural and historical significance.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet senior interlocutors of the French Government to discuss bilateral cooperation and areas of mutual interest.
The Delegation of the Prime Minister includes the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) BUNGO and ETAJIMA arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill visit this morning (01 Apr 25).
The visiting ships were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
The 141m long JMSDF BUNGO is an Uraga-Class Minesweeper Tender commanded by Commander TANAKA Koji and the ship is manned by a crew of 125.
Meanwhile, JMSDF Etajima, a 65-meter-long Minesweeper, is under the command of Commander Oda Takayuki and operates with a crew of 54 personnel.
During the stay in the island, crew members of the ships will explore some tourist attractions within the city of Colombo. The ships are scheduled to set sail from Colombo on 04 Apr.
“You and your families will be eliminated”
By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randun
A full-scale investigation has been launched to track down an underworld character, ‘Navy Dinesh,’ a key accomplice of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, for issuing death threats over the phone to three police officers, including the Gampaha HQI, Crime Branch OIC, of the same police station, and others.
Navy Dinesh is believed to have fled the country.
According to police sources, threats were issued following the arrest of Navy Dinesh’s father and brother in connection with a drug trafficking case.
Phone analysis reports have confirmed that the calls originated from Dubai and France.
Following the murder of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, Navy Dinesh assumed leadership of the underworld gang he had previously been involved with.
Navy Dinesh contacted the Gampaha HQI, the OIC of the Crime Branch, and the investigating police constable, and threatened to kill them and their family members. “You and your families will be eliminated,” he said.
A special police team had been assigned to investigate the matter, and a report has been submitted to the courts, police sources said.
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