Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa said if he had been elected as President, he would have renegotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and taken steps to reduce the tax burden on the people. He questioned the Government as to why it has been unable to reduce taxes following discussions with the IMF.

Addressing a meeting with SJB members and activists in the Awissawella electorate, Premadasa stated that the people expected the Government to engage with the IMF and take steps to reduce the indirect tax burden on them. However, the Government has yet to fulfill this promise, and the taxes remain the same. The Government also claims it would continue the IMF programme without amendments, forgetting their own election promises, Premadasa asserted.

Speaking further, Premadasa said he would like to know what happened during the discussions between the new Government and the IMF, as well as the Government’s plans to reduce taxes.

“If I had been elected as President, I would have renegotiated with the IMF. Now, if we win the General Election, we can do that under an SJB Government because this Government would not do that, even though they promised,” he said.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe says former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has made no indication that he would return to Sri Lanka soon. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Wickremesinghe admitted he is in contact with Rajapaksa to deal with administrative handover issues and other government business and said the former President had not told him he would return to Sri Lanka in the near future. 

This is contrary to the statement by Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena recently where he said it is likely that Rajapaksa would return to Sri Lanka soon. Rajapaksa is currently in Singapore on a visit visa after fleeing the country on July 13 amidst widespread protests calling for his resignation.  

In his interview, Wickremesinghe also opined it is not the right time for Rajapaksa to return as it would give rise to more political tensions in the country. Wickremesinghe also said he believes Sri Lanka has already hit rock bottom and the staff level agreement with the IMF will likely be finalised at the end of August. He also added it will be months before Sri Lankans see any improvement in the economy and their circumstances.