The only opposition parliamentarian to attend a meeting convened by Sri Lanka’s president has clinched a deal for the release of undisclosed International Monetary Fund (IMF) analytical data related to its bailout package.
Every opposition party had turned down the invitation by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to what he had described as “a crucial party leader’s meeting to deliberate on the IMF proposals” on March 11.
Although not a party leader, Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) lawmaker MA Sumanthiran took part ‘Representing the Opposition’ claimed the president’s office.
“After we raised our concern about the inability to decide whether to support this programme in the absence of proper data, they agreed to provide us with the Technical Assistance Reports from the IMF. Those reports explain the reasons for their recommendations. They told that they will share it with me initially,” MP Sumanthiran told journalists outside the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo after the discussions.
Upon questioning, the Jaffna district parliamentarian said that he went to the meeting on a personal invitation of the president.
“President Wickremesinghe, acknowledging the importance of transparency, assured that the government would release the data to the TNA and Parliament, facilitating informed debate and decision-making,” said the president’s office.
The president’s office seems to have incorrectly identified TNA (Tamil National Alliance) as the political party of MP Sumanthiran.
A senior spokesperson of ITAK, of which MP Sumanthiran is a member said the party had no prior knowledge of the Jaffna district legislators meet with the president.
ITAK Chairman Shritharan Sivagnanam MP who defeated MA Sumanthiran in the leadership contest in January, refused to comment.
Nevertheless, the president’s office said that MP Sumanthiran expressed his ‘readiness to participate constructively in the dialogue’ in further discussion with the IMF under the government’s invitation.
On the day of the president and government representatives meeting MP Sumanthiran in Colombo, MP Sivagnanam was in Jaffna protesting police brutality against Hindu devotees celebrating Mahasivarathri at Vavuniya’s Vedukkunarimalai Athi Lingeshwarar Kovil.
The protesters in Nallur urged the immediate release of 8 Tamils including the temple priest arrested on 8 March and to safeguard their right to belief.
Statement by IMF team led by Senior Mission Chief to Sri Lanka Peter Breuer at the conclusion of its visit to the country in January 2024
https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/01/18/pr2414-sri-lanka-imf-staff-concludes-visit
