AKD pledges to reassess IMF agreement

Tuesday, 27 August 2024 02:49 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

National People’s Power (NPP) Presidential Candidate Anura Kumara through his Presidential election manifesto has pledged to reassess the International Monetary Fund’s income-based expenditure management proposals and introduce new measures for efficient tax administration and Government expenditure management.

The NPP manifesto released yesterday, noted it aims to conduct an alternative debt sustainability analysis and a comprehensive credit audit of Government loans. To boost economic growth, the NPP under Dissanayake’s leadership said it will prioritise legislation designed to attract foreign investment in key sectors, with a special emphasis on public-private and public joint ventures.

The NPP’s manifesto is centred around four core pillars: creating a comfortable country, ensuring a safe nation, achieving economic prosperity, and fostering a proud and resilient society. A key element of their proposed reforms is the abolition of the Executive Presidency, moving towards a Parliamentary system to prevent the concentration of power in a single office. It also advocates for reforms to the Parliamentary election system to ensure fairer representation, a reduction in the number of official residences for the president, and the removal of excessive privileges for retired Presidents and their spouses.

A major focus of the manifesto is on overhauling the Government to enhance both accountability and efficiency. The NPP proposes to streamline the Cabinet, capping it at 25 ministers with clearly defined, scientifically determined portfolios, and eliminating the roles of State Ministers. They also advocate for the creation of Expert Advisory Boards within each ministry to improve decision-making.

To empower voters, the manifesto introduces a concept of Electoral Accountability, which would grant citizens the ability to recall representatives who engage in corrupt practices. Additionally, the NPP plans to eliminate the five-year pension and duty-free vehicle privileges currently afforded to Members of Parliament, underscoring the importance of accountability and transparency throughout the Government.

Regarding law and order, the manifesto details several crucial initiatives, including the formation of an Anti-Discrimination Commission endowed with statutory authority to address racial and religious extremism. The NPP is dedicated to investigating political assassinations, enforced disappearances, and abductions, ensuring justice for affected individuals. Furthermore, they propose to broaden the scope of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to tackle violence from racial and religious extremism and pursue legal actions against those responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks, following the recommendations of the Presidential Commission.