Sajith promises to renegotiate IMF deal under future SJB Govt.

Tuesday, 3 October 2023 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Criticises Govt. for pursuing a lacklustre, feeble, and ineffective approach in IMF negotiations
Highlights importance of conducting negotiations that maximise benefits for Sri Lankans
Accuses Govt. of imposing own decisions on people and falsely attributing them to IMF
Claims SJB has already informed IMF it will renegotiate deal once it comes to power

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa announced yesterday that a future Government led by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), with him at the helm, will initiate steps to renegotiate the IMF deal in a manner that prioritises the welfare of the Sri Lankan people.

He criticised the Government for pursuing a lacklustre, feeble, and ineffective approach in its negotiations with the IMF. He emphasised the importance of conducting negotiations in a way that maximises the benefits for the people. He remarked, “However, it seems that the current Government has not succeeded in reaching such an agreement.”

Premadasa made these comments during a meeting held in Parliament yesterday between the Opposition leader’s parliamentary committee and the Trade Union Collective.

He accused the current Government of imposing its own decisions on the people and falsely attributing them to IMF conditions in order to deceive the public. “We have informed the IMF that once the SJB comes into power, we will endeavour to renegotiate the agreement made with the current Government,” he added.

Premadasa informed the trade unions that he had also informed the IMF about the unfair tax burden imposed on the people by the Government, even as the Government granted tax breaks to its wealthy business associates. He assured that under an SJB-led Government, they would not consent to any agreement that would be detrimental to the interests of the people.

Furthermore, he pointed out that due to issues such as non-payment of taxes, the granting of tax concessions, and inadequate tax administration, the taxation system in the country lacks fairness. He also asserted that the SJB has already devised a strategy to counteract the ongoing brain drain caused by the economic crisis.