Sajith expresses concern over Sri Lanka’s ability to honour agreement with IMF

Vows to implement controversial 13 Amendment

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SJB leader Sajith Premadasa has asserted that the National People's Power government has not been able to create conditions for the country to start repaying lenders in 2028 in terms of the agreement with the IME.

Premadasa, who is also the Opposition Leader expressed that view in an interview with Sidhant Sibal of the Indian media outlet WION.

Asked whether the NPP government would be able to fulfill the key mandate, key demand, key pledges made during the elections and able to find the money that needs to be returned to the international lenders beginning 2028, the SJB leader said: Well, I can say quite openly that there is a mismatch between declarations that were made and actions that are taking place. I will confine myself to that. 2028 is the year that brings us towards the decision day. That's when our foreign debt obligations have to be fulfilled on a mass scale, on a large scale. In order to do so, we have to have fast economic growth, better foreign exchange reserves, vast improvements in export led growth and export led income, ensure our remittances at a very high level. And most important of all, we need to have mass scale foreign direct investment. So in all of those aspects, we seem to not be achieving according to the requisite targets, and 2028 should not be a repetition of 2022. So we all have to unite as a country to ensure that that social debacle is not repeated, but it's very challenging. The path is full of obstacles, but with a determined approach, with the correct approach, with an authentic economic and development policy, we can achieve our objectives. Those challenges and obstacles are not insurmountable.

Sidhant Sibal: Do you have any sense why this region, the Indian subcontinent, has witnessed these protests which have toppled governments? What's your sense like as a leading politician, as a statesman of this region?