SLPP urge Govt to provide budget concessions

The ruling Sri Lanka Podhujana Peramuna warned that there would not be drastic consequences if the government acts according to the whims of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and further burdens people to fulfill every condition to obtain the bailout package. 

“If we do everything according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), our people would be half dead when we obtain the loan.” SLPP MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena said in a press conference yesterday.

Mr Abeygunwardena made these remarks at a press conference held at SLPP party headquarters. He explained that the SLPP is proposing to have discussions with the president and the cabinet ministers as a party to find other alternatives when deciding on increasing electricity tariffs.

He also added that the SLPP urged the government to provide people more concessions other than full filing all IMF conditions by imposing hardships on the people and the country.

Mr Abeygunawardena said that the upcoming year would be an election year and therefore presidential election should be held in 2024 after the budget. He also added that the much delayed Provincial Council elections also affected the human rights of the thousands of candidates who have submitted nomination papers.  “We urge the government to cancel the nominations if they are not having elections,” he added.