News
Opposition to boycott today’s meeting with IMF
SJB, NPP, TNA turn down President’s invitation
by Saman Indrajith
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has turned down President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s invitation to a meeting with a visiting IMF delegation, today. The National People’s Power (NPP), led by the JVP, and the TNA, have also rejected the President’s invitation to today’s meeting, but TNA MP MA Sumanthiran is likely to meet the IMF delegation today, according to sources.
The Opposition Leader’s Secretary, Thasith DB Wijayagunawardene, has written to the Secretary to the President, E. M. S. B. Ekanayake that Premadasa will not attend today’s meeting with the IMF delegates. He has said in his letter: “The Staff Level Agreement with the IMF was reached on September 01, 2022, while Executive Board Approval was obtained on March 20, 2023.
“Throughout this period, the Opposition consistently requested on the floor of Parliament that the Government should share with the Opposition the contents of the agreement. The Opposition did so in the national interest because, at that time, constructive suggestions could have been taken into account, and the Opposition was eager to contribute their ideas and insights to ensure an agreement which would confer optimal benefits on our country.
“Regrettably, however, the government persistently refused to take Parliament into its confidence, and insisted on handling the negotiations unilaterally.
“In marked contrast, the government later decided to place the agreement before Parliament for debate, and even wanted a vote taken on it.
“The Leader of the Opposition and the Members of the Opposition have emphatically expressed their disagreement to the government’s initiative in imposing a disproportionate burden on the Employees’ Provident Fund, in flagrant violation of the norms of social equity. In the name of ‘optimization’ the brunt of the national debt has to be borne by sections of the community least able to bear the burden.
“As far as primary bond holders and inter national sovereign bond holders are concerned, there appears to be hardly any measurable progress, despite repeated assurances that agreement is imminent.
“In these circumstances, the Leader of the Opposition is of the view that the invitation
extended to him is clearly disingenuous and lacking in good faith. Therefore, the leader of the Opposition wants to convey the message that he will not attend the meeting.
“However, he wishes to reiterate that he and the Members of the Opposition are at all times prepared to engage with representatives of the IMF from the standpoint of protection of the national interest, as they have readily done in the past.”
NPP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath has said that his party will not attend today’s meeting.
State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe, addressing the media yesterday in Anuradhapura, lambasted the Opposition for its decision to boycott today’s meeting. He said the Opposition should act responsibly while the government was trying to enable the country to come out of the present economic crisis.
Latest News
Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.
Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.
Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.
In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.
Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.
The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.
The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.
He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.
According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.
Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.
However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.
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