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Last Updated : 2024-04-25 00:00:00
SJB MPs Harsha de Silva at the media conference flanked by Eran Wickramatne and Kabir Hashim
Pic by Kithsiri de Mel
By Yohan Perera
The government should tell the nation as to how it is going to service the massive debt liabilities falling due for this year, as all the three global rating agencies have downgraded Sri Lanka’s sovereign rating deeper into junk territory—latest being the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) this week—citing heightened external financing risks, the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said yesterday.
SJB MP Harsha de Silva told a press conference that the government should tell the country as to how it is planning settle the total debt liabilities estimated at US$ 6.9 billion for this year with rating agencies continuing to downgrade Sri Lanka.
“The statement made by Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal that Sri Lanka would not face any issue in meeting debt services as the country would settle the US$ 500 million on January 18 is unacceptable,” the MP said.
“As per the information we have received, the IMF has done a debt sustainability analysis and Sri Lanka’s situation is worse than expected,” he alleged. “Also, one wonders as to why the government is so keen on settling the US$ 500 million bond on January 18 at a time when there are no funds to purchase fuel and other essential items,” he said.
Referring to the recent request made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to the Chinese Foreign Minister to reschedule the loans from China,
de Silva said China had indicated that it is willing to reschedule only the interest-free loans and not the commercial loans.
“This situation will not help Sri Lanka as the percentage of interest-free non commercial loans due to China is little compared to commercial loans,” he pointed out.
Central Bank Governor this week dismissed calls for debt deferment and said Sri Lanka would honour all external debt falling due this year with strategies already in place to secure dollar funding from friendly nations and institutions.
The government is also pinning its hopes heavily on tourism inflows as a revival in tourist arrivals is expected this year.
Jude Friday, 14 January 2022 10:51 AM
The situation dictate prudent action !! HOWEVER, we're still waiting!!! Yeah!!
Dena Murhtha Friday, 14 January 2022 11:58 AM
Time for you to take sabbatical leave and do another PHD paper on your economic theories.
Ram Friday, 14 January 2022 12:07 PM
Sri Lanka going down the pallang. All are worried but the concerned politicians unmoved and deaf
Lanka Shantha Friday, 14 January 2022 07:40 PM
To whom the US$ 500 million bond money is going to be paid on January 18? As citizen of Sri Lanka can we have the information? Why Cabral is keen on paying it back?
Sambo Friday, 14 January 2022 08:19 PM
We will be down graded to C- very soon.
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