Independent Presidential Candidate and President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that representatives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are set to visit Sri Lanka in two weeks to release the next instalment of funds, as stipulated in the agreement between the Sri Lankan government and the IMF.
Speaking at the “Ranil Can” (Ranil ta Puluwan) victory rally held at the Kalutara Public Stadium today (18), President Wickremesinghe emphasized the critical decision the public will face on September 21. He noted that approving changes to the IMF agreement could jeopardize the financial concessions currently in place.
“I ask the people if they can trust leaders who abandon their responsibilities at the first sign of trouble. Today, we have successfully steered our economy, which was once sinking like the Titanic, back on course. The choice now is whether to change the captain and alter our course while the ship is docked,” he stated.
The President also warned that opposition leaders Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake are preparing to reverse the progress made under his leadership. “In two weeks, IMF representatives will arrive in Sri Lanka to disburse the next instalment of funds. If we alter the agreement, the IMF will withhold the funds, which could lead to another economic collapse. The people must decide if we want to take that risk.”
Wickremesinghe further addressed the opposition’s stance, stating, “Anura Kumara Dissanayake has acknowledged the improvements in the economy under my leadership and even suggested that the current system might need to continue. Yet, he claims he will step down in a year and a half if he fails to make progress. I question why he seeks to take over if he is not prepared to lead effectively. Sajith and Anura have demonstrated that they are not capable of leading this country forward.”
