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‘Parliamentary approval irrelevant, President played politics with issue’

Published

3 years ago

2023/05/2

Sahan Weerasooriya

Harsha de Silva

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.

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Govt. extends ban on LTTE

Published

4 hours ago

2026/01/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

The NPP government has issued a new extraordinary gazette renewing and extending Sri Lanka’s long-standing ban on the LTTE and several Tamil diaspora organisations and individuals, continuing to designate them as “terrorists”.

The gazette, published recently, replaces a previous gazette issued in May 2025 and reaffirmed the proscription of a wide range of Tamil political and advocacy bodies operating around the world, alongside dozens of named individuals. The government alleged both the organisations and individuals listed are involved in “terrorism-related activities”.

The organisations blacklisted by the Sri Lankan government include:

• Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

• Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO)

• Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC)

• World Tamil Movement (WTM)

• Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE)

• World Tamil Relief Fund (WTRF)

• National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT)

• Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO)

While the majority of the designations mirror those contained in the May 2025 gazette, the latest document updates identification details and addresses for a number of individuals and introduces at least one additional organisation to the list. All entries have been reissued under new reference numbers for 2026, though the underlying allegations and framing remain unchanged.

Successive governemnts have maintained a sweeping proscription regime against Tamil diaspora groups and individuals. A ban can make it a criminal offence for Sri Lankan citizens to maintain contact with these organisations or their members, severely restricting political engagement and stifling links between the diaspora and the Tamil homeland.

The original mass listings were introduced in 2014 under the administration of Mahinda Rajapaksa. Despite repeated outcry, subsequent governments have continued to uphold and renew the proscription regime, even after the Rajapaksas were voted out of power.

News

Police obtain court order banning Wimal’s protest

Published

4 hours ago

2026/01/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa addresses a gathering outside the Education Ministry on Monday before launching a protest demanding the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya as Education Minister over the inclusion of a link to an adult content website in the Grade 06 English module. (Pic by Thushara Atapattu)

Police yesterday (12) obtained an injunction order from the Kaduwela Magistrate’s court against the protest launched by National Freedom Front (NFF) leader and former Minister Wimal Weerawansa opposite the Education Ministry, Isurupaya, at Battaramulla.

Police informed Weerawansa of the court order. In line with the court order, the police informed Weerawansa that the road near the Ministry should not be obstructed and that no sound amplification equipment be used while the GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examination is in progress. The examination, put off due to Cyclone Ditwah, recommenced yesterday.

News

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expresses optimism that Sri Lanka is on the right path to progres

Published

4 hours ago

2026/01/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

FM Herath with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath held productive discussions with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi today (12/01), during the latter’s brief visit to Sri Lanka.

The meeting aimed at further strengthening bilateral engagement and advancing the Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries. Both Ministers reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and time-tested cooperation between Sri Lanka and China rooted in centuries of exchanges and consolidated since the establishment of diplomatic relations seven decades ago. The discussion also focused on enhancing partnership in the areas of trade, investment, development cooperation and tourism.

Minister Herath extended deep appreciation to the Government and the people of China for the steadfast support extended to Sri Lanka following cyclone Ditwah and requested further support for the second phase of resettlement, relocation and rebuilding, particularly for the restoration of affected infrastructure including identified roads, railways and bridges that are vital to connectivity, economic recovery and daily lives of people. Minister Wang assured China’s fullest support for this initiative and expressed confidence that Sri Lanka will continue its rapid recovery under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Disanayaka. He also welcomed the people-centric policies of the Government and expressed optimism that Sri Lanka is on the right path toward fulfilling aspirations of its people.

Minister Herath expressed appreciation for China’s constructive role in international fora and reiterated Sri Lanka’s firm commitment to the One China Policy and China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Both Ministers also recalled the successful high level exchanges in the recent past, including visits of the President and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to China in 2025.