Cannot afford to allow protesters to disrupt economic recovery: UNP

Claiming that a group of individuals surrounded the Finance Ministry and attempted to prevent the Finance Secretary from attending the IMF talks, UNP Working Committee member Dinouk Colombage said such groups cannot be allowed to disrupt the economic recovery efforts of the country.

He said in a statement that the protesters are not part of the groups who have been calling for a genuine change in the country, but rather those who have ulterior political motives. 

"Protests have not and will not be halted in the country, however, at a time when the entire country is suffering due to the economic crisis, we cannot afford to allow such groups to disrupt the economic recovery efforts. It is vital that the economy is stablized, not for any political party's benefits, but for the well-being and future of all citizens of Sri Lanka," he said.

"Today the IMF arrived in the country to hold discussions with the Prime Minister regarding financial assistance for Sri Lanka. It was during the 2020 Parliamentary election that the UNP first said that the country needs to go to the IMF for assistance. The former Government delayed to do so. This has caused grave financial damage to our national economy. After much delay, and while the country faces immense economic hardship, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has managed to engage the IMF in discussions regarding a staff-level agreement," he added.