Courts can rule on election date, but cannot save the economy - President

• President extends invitation to SJB and JVP to meet IMF with proposals  
• “If there are alternatives, they should be shared. I’m ready to implement good proposals”

Courts can rule on election date, but cannot save the economy, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said addressing a business and legal forum in Kandy.  “Although political parties can go to courts to decide when the election should be held, the economy cannot be saved by courts,” President Wickremesinghe said, stating that the responsibility of saving the country’s economy falls on the Parliament.

The President said that proposals put forth by political parties could be submitted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance. “If there are alternatives, they should be shared. I’m ready to implement good proposals. However, the final decision lies with the IMF. I’m ready to give the opportunity to the opposition groups such as Samagi Jana Balawegaya and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna to meet with IMF officials in Washington,” he added. The President expressed his willingness to implement such proposals, in the event they are determined to be better than proposals put forth by the IMF.