If Sajith wins by some chance, he can’t prepare Budget 2025 – Minister Dr. Bandula
Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana told Parliament yesterday that if Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa comes to power by any chance, he will try to renegotiate the IMF deal and the ultimate result would be scuttling the budget 2025 in process. Then, the Minister questioned how the salaries, pensions and subsidies of the government employees will be paid in 2025 and emphasized that if Sajith gets power, he can do politics, but he cannot govern a country.
The Minister said this while joining the debate on the Economic Transformation Bill and Public Financial Management Bill. In order to rebuild the collapsed country, President Ranil Wickremesinghe entered into a comprehensive loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund. According to the law of international agreements, the Government of Lanka and the Finance Ministry have agreed to work according to the agreement until 2027.
Thus, according to the agreement made with the IMF, the estimated balance of payments gap is US$ 5,018 million when preparing the budget for 2025.To bridge the gap, the IMF promised US$663 million under the Extended Credit Facility.
“Another US$ 700 million will be given for 2025. The World Bank will give US$ 300 million and an amount of US$ 3,855 will be given as loan relief.
The Opposition Leader is clearly telling the Parliament that he has informed the IMF that he has not accepted the agreement reached with the IMF and he will definitely revise the agreement.
“So If he gets power even by chance and he will try to revise the IMF deal, then there will be no chance to prepare the 2025 budget,” he said.
