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SJB, NPP to boycott President’s meeting with IMF delegation
View(s):The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National Peoples’ Power (NPP) have opted to stay away from tomorrow’s meeting, which President Ranil Wickremesinghe has arranged with a delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Both the SJB and the NPP yesterday declared that they were not interested in taking part in the discussions, but they would have separate meetings if required.
The Presidential Secretariat said on Friday that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and Illankai Thamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) leader S. Sridharan have been invited to the IMF meeting.
SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara told the Sunday Times they had decided to boycott the meeting as they believed that it was part of the agenda of the president.
“As the main opposition, we can meet the IMF delegation separately,” he said.
SJB National Orgaiser Tissa Attnayake said a virtual meeting involving Mr. Premadasa and senior members was held, and a decision was taken not to take part in the IMF meeting. “This is not an action to sabotage the programme, but since it is a meeting called by the president, we do not want to get involved in the exercise”.
“Our plea to the IMF is to reduce the tax burden on the people,” he said.
JVP frontliner Sunil Handunnetti told the Sunday Times that the NPP would not take part in the discussions and that if they wanted to meet with the IMF delegation, they would be meeting them separately.
ITAK leader Sridharan said he was invited by the Presidential Secretariat, and in turn, he informed them to get in touch with the party’s parliamentary group leader, R. Sampanthan.
State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe said the meeting was an opportunity for the political party leaders to put forward their proposals, and it would be a waste of an opportunity given to them.
He said the agreement for the next tranche was due soon and that the opposition parties could submit their proposals to be considered at this meeting.
The President’s office, in a statement, said the initiative to invite opposition members stemmed from a recent request made by SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva in Parliament, prompting the President to extend a warm invitation to all recognised opposition parties to collaborate with the government in navigating the challenges posed by the IMF programme.
Key figures set to participate in the discussions include Finance State Ministers Shehan Semasinghe and Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, the President’s Chief of Staff and senior National Security Advisor Sagala Ratnayaka, Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Finance Ministry Secretary K. M. Mahinda Siriwardena; and the President’s Senior Economic Affairs Advisor Dr. R. H. S. Samaratunga.
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