2024-03-20 20:13:40
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As a responsible party, United People’s Power has well understood the depth and complexity of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa said during a meeting with representatives of the International Monetary Fund in Parliament today (20) afternoon.
The representatives of the opposition parties told the representatives of the International Monetary Fund in this discussion that every step we take should lead to the recovery of the country from the recession, strengthening investments and strengthening the economic strength of the people.
Specifically, half of the country is impoverished. Due to this situation the income of the family units has fallen rapidly. As a result, malnutrition has increased among infants, pregnant women, mothers, children, 41 lakh school students and youth. Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa pointed out here that the cooperation of the International Monetary Fund is necessary to control this.
The existing anti-poverty social security schemes are not sufficient for this. A new social security program on the lines of the Janasavya program is needed. The Leader of Opposition further pointed out that areas like consumption, investment and savings should also be covered.
The opposition representatives here also pointed out that the current situation would not have arisen if the government had responded earlier to their proposal to face the country’s economic crisis with the help of the International Monetary Fund.
It was also pointed out here that although the United People’s Power has positively accepted the roadmap and targets proposed by the International Monetary Fund to resolve Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, amendments should be made in the implementation of some proposals.
It was also pointed out to the delegation of the International Fund that public financial management should be carried out in such a way as to free the country from bankruptcy and enable it to sustainably repay the debt.
The discussion also pointed out that while the IMF’s proposal to generate tax revenue as a percentage of GDP is acceptable, the method of collecting this revenue should be changed.
It was also emphasized that this should be done in a manner that does not oppress the people and can create social justice.
It was discussed to take steps to digitalize all the departments to carry out tax administration, excise duty and customs duty in a more efficient manner and to expand the arrangements for this.
A number of issues were also raised regarding the creation of a framework to recover the lost income of politically supported traders and those involved in black market trade.
It was also noted that performance based program should be implemented in public expenditure management.
It was pointed out that the shrunken economy should be projected to achieve a sustainable growth rate of 10 percent per annum over the next ten years, and some revisions to the International Monetary Fund Agreement were suggested to devise measures for this.
United People’s Power is expected to restore Sri Lanka’s economy. It should be a competitive framework for entry into the global economic market. The delegates were also briefed on the importance of revising investment and international trade policies to strengthen the country’s economy.
International debt restructuring should be prioritized. The impact of this delay on investments is huge. It was also pointed out here that United People’s Shakti understands the importance of debt restructuring, recovering the country from bankruptcy and entering the international credit rankings.
As a republic there is an obligation to pay the debt. It was also clarified to the representatives of the International Monetary Fund that steps should be taken to ensure that the country gets maximum benefits and concessions in debt restructuring.
Meanwhile, it was also pointed out here that if any loan is misused, it will be investigated without any hesitation and legal action will be taken against the responsible party.
Corruption, waste and poor management in some government enterprises have a major impact on the economy. It was also pointed out here that in reorganizing such institutions, working in country-friendly ways.
In addition, the Leader of the Opposition pointed out that the malnutrition of mothers, infants and children in Sri Lanka has reached a high level in the past and requested that positive intervention should be made in this regard.
Similarly, in strengthening Sri Lanka’s economy, attention was paid here to the issues of small and medium scale industries, which contribute 50 percent of the country’s national income and 52 percent of employment.
Various problems of farmers, fishermen, self-employed, government employees and middle class people who are currently in dire straits were explained here in detail.
It was also emphasized that while the entire population of the country is facing severe economic crisis, the social security schemes especially for the low income people should be implemented in such a way as to benefit the various people without any influence. The importance of reviewing the Aswesuma scheme was also discussed here.
The meeting was attended by representatives including Peter Brewer, Head of the International Monetary Fund Mission to Sri Lanka, Deputy Head of the International Monetary Fund Mission, Katya Sviritchenko, and Resident Representative of the International Monetary Fund to Sri Lanka, Kalanithi Sarvath Jahan.
Members of Parliament Eran Wickramaratne, Kabir Hashim, Kalanithi Harsha de Silva, Niroshan Perera, Professor G. L. Peiris, Nalaka Kodahewa, Chandima Virakodi, M. Velukumar, Harshana Subun Rajakaruna and Sujeeva Senasinghe attended the meeting along with Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa.
Also present were Tania Abhesundhara, Mahendra Perera, Sushantha Lianarachchi, Suresh Raghavan and Yogeswaran representing Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs.
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