Prez returns Harsha’s dig

By Saman Indrajith

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Parliament yesterday that it was not sure how long Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) Chairman SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva would be able to hold onto that post.

He said so in response to a question raised by MP de Silva, who called on the President to speak to all parties in Parliament on the matters pertaining to restructuring foreign debts as per the IMF directives.

Dr. de Silva called on the President to explain to the House the debt restructuring process.

He said: “I am not sure how long you will be able to continue as the President.

We intend to form our own government, under the leadership of Sajith Premadasa. So, we’ll have to face the obligations that you now undertake in debt restructuring. As such we, too, should know how this debt restructuring process with foreign countries is progressing.”

The President said that he would keep Parliament informed of all developments and results of discussions with the IMF. “We are willing to talk to all and get their ideas, too, and present them to the IMF. The real question is not how long I would prevail but how long you would be able to hold onto the Chairmanship of the CoPF,” the President said.