Sajith roars at IMF but Harsha tones it down

Speaking at a campaign rally at Matugama in the Kalutara district, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa had a message for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other financial institutions.

“A Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led government is not bound to implement any agreement or promise made by this Government, which is led by a President who does not have the people’s mandate,” he thundered.

Mr Premadasa said one could not negotiate with the IMF while grovelling on one’s hands and knees.

“We need to approach the IMF with our head held high like a courageous lion,” he told the crowd.

The Opposition Leader’s speech was given wide airplay. It was soon clear the SJB had been forced into damage control mode over what was clearly a careless outburst, or “gallery talk” by their leader.

When questioned about how a country as bankrupt as Sri Lanka could approach the IMF “like a courageous lion,” SJB front-liner Dr. Harsha de Silva told journalists on Thursday that an agreement must be reached between Sri Lanka and the IMF on certain issues. That did not mean that Sri Lanka should agree to everything proposed by the IMF, he insisted.

“We do not need to accept everything that the IMF says is necessary. We need to tell the IMF ‘this is our plan and present it.’ What Mr Premadasa meant by his comments is that there has to be some amendments to the agreement with the IMF. We know what those amendments should be. We have presented a 10-point plan to stabilise the country’s economy. Both the Government and the IMF surely have copies of this plan,” he explained while doing some damage-control on his party leader’s outburst.