IMF report: UNP, SJB demand parliamentary debate

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for an urgent debate in Parliament on the latest IMF report on Sri Lanka.

Party sources told The Island that Wickremesinghe had informed Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena, and Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena that the government had to make its position known on the IMF report.

Meanwhile, the SJB too has demanded a one-day debate in Parliament on the IMF report.

Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella has written to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywawardena that the IMF report was released after the last party leaders’ meeting and therefore the need for a debate on that report or fixing a date during the next sitting week of Parliament could be raised at that meeting.

Chief Opposition Whip Kiriella has requested Speaker Abeywardena to summon a party leaders’ meeting immediately to fix a date for the debate.

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando told The Island yesterday that the government had decided to hold a parliamentary debate on the IMF report during the first sitting week in April.