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SJB to renegotiate with IMF immediately after Premadasa’s victory – Eran
… pledges public sector reforms and SoE overhaul
The SJB will initiate renegotiations with the IMF immediately after Sajith Premadasa assumes the presidency, said SJB Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne, while addressing a gathering of bankers on Monday (16) evening.
Wickramaratne stated that the SJB would not wait until the conclusion of the general election to begin ensuring macroeconomic stability, which he described as a key responsibility of any government. He emphasised the importance of professionals taking up roles in governance and administration, noting that he and Karu Jayasuriya were among the few professionals from the corporate sector to enter politics.
“Unlike in other countries, Sri Lankan politicians typically do not come from a professional background. Many seek power but lack work experience, having never held a paid job or run their own business. How can a country thrive if such individuals are elected?” Wickramaratne asked.
Drawing a comparison to India, he referenced the former Indian Finance Minister, Manmohan Singh, who was brought into politics from his role as a civil servant in New York. Singh’s decision to float the exchange rate sparked accusations from the Opposition that he was seeking to gain personally from his foreign currency savings. In response, Singh publicly declared his assets, including his foreign currency account, and donated all income from these accounts to a government fund. This, Wickramaratne highlighted, built immense confidence in Singh and his policies—something Sri Lanka needs from its public servants and professionals to advance the country.
Wickramaratne further addressed the misperception that politicians are solely responsible for corruption, pointing out that, over the past few years, Local Government Institutions have operated without political leadership, yet corruption remains entrenched. “Can anyone get their building plans approved without bribing the relevant officials? Can they secure a permit to fell a coconut tree from a divisional secretary’s office or obtain a police clearance report without paying something?” he questioned, noting that public frustration with the civil service has reached a boiling point. He suggested that institutional corruption is deeply ingrained within the public sector, and without significant reforms, another public uprising (Aragalaya) could occur.
Wickramaratne stressed that the SJB intends to implement structural changes within the public service to ensure its independence.
Regarding State-Owned Enterprise (SoE) reforms, he stated that under the new SJB government, private sector involvement or public-private partnerships (PPP) would be introduced to major SoEs, while others would be shut down as part of their reform strategy aimed at rationalising public expenditure.
The Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka Dr. Siri Walt paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on the 17th of February at the Temple Trees.
Welcoming the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka the Prime Minister briefed the Ambassador on her recent visit to Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting noting that the series of high-level bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the Forum, along with two important industry visits provided valuable insights for Sri Lanka’s economic engagement.
The discussion focused on Switzerland’s vocational education and training (VET) system, with particular interest in exploring possible cooperation and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
The Prime Minister also conveyed her appreciation for the assistance extended by the Government of Switzerland following Cyclone Ditwah. She emphasized Sri Lanka’s need for enhanced technical assistance during the ongoing rebuilding phase, especially in relation to the reconstruction of bridges and railway infrastructure.
Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Switzerland, and to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
First Secretary (Political) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Justine Boillat, First Secretary (Migration) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Andrea Kienast and the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatt and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Foreign Employment, Tourism.attended the meeting.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka
Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 03.00 pm on 18 February 2026
Multiday boats fishermen and naval community are warned that the low-pressure area still persists over the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka. Under the influence of this system, heavy showers or thundershowers, Strong winds about (50-60) kmph, and rough or very rough seas can be expected in these sea areas.
The Meteorological Department is constantly monitoring the behavior of the system.
The naval and fishing communities are requested to be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.
Canada, said to be the home to the largest Tamil Diaspora community, has expressed concern over the delay in holding Provincial Council (PC) elections. Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Martin, on Monday (16), took up the issue with Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Professor Chandana Abayaratne.
Sources quoted Prof. Abayaratne as having told the Canadian HC that the delay was not deliberate on the part of the government. The Minister blamed, what the sources called, certain legal, technical and delimitation issues for the delay.
India compelled Sri Lanka to enact the 13th Amendment to the country’s Constitution to enable the setting up of the Provincial Council system, in line with the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord, which Sri Lanka signed under duress in July 1987.
Prof. Abayaratne has assured the Canadian HC that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, too, recognised the importance of strengthening the Provincial Council system as a solution to ethnic issues and that urgent steps would be taken in that regard.
During the discussion, matters relating to strengthening political, economic and social relations between the two countries were discussed.
In May 2020, Canada declared that Sri Lanka had perpetrated genocide during the war against the LTTE. Canada also sanctioned former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa in January 2023 over alleged war crimes.
The Canadian HC also explained her country’s ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy and how Sri Lanka could benefit from it.
In particular, Canada’s “Pathways to Peace” project will support reconciliation between nations, and to improve communication by encouraging the learning of mutual languages as a second language, and it was also agreed to provide more opportunities for Sri Lankan students to pursue higher studies in Canada.
The Canadian delegation also expressed its willingness to provide the necessary technical assistance to solve the drinking water problems in Puttalam, Mannar and the North-Eastern provinces under technical cooperation, and to implement the relevant projects after a preliminary study.
by Shamindra Ferdinando
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