IMF staff level agreement cannot be given to Parliament: Speaker

9 September 2022 01:17 pm - 21 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Details on the staff level agreement which Sri Lanka has reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cannot be given to Parliament as it contains some sensitive matters with regard to taxes, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene announced today.

“ I have discussed the IMF staff level agreement with the Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and he is not against presenting it to Parliament and he informed me that the issue is that it contains sensitive matters with regard to taxes,” the Speaker said.

He came out with this remark when Chief Opposition whip Lakshman Kiriella said the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) intends to call for a debate on it.

“ We want a debate on the IMF staff level agreement but it has to be tabled in the House before the debate take place," he said.

Leader of the House Susil Premajayantha said the agreement will be presented to the national council which comprises all parties as well once it is established. “ We will establish the national council soon and then we can present the IMF staff level agreement to it and get the opinion of party leaders,” he said.

SJB MP Hesha Withanage proposed that sensitive information in the staff level agreement should be left out while the other details should be presented to the House. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)

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Comments - 21

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 09 September 2022 01:30 PM

There is nothing sensitive or kept secret when governing the finances of this country. Those things sensitive are reference to the enormous corruptions and swindling by those in power that have been highlighted by IMF. This is more reason for this whole report to be made public, so that public will know who was involved in this massive bankruptcy to this country using peoples money. Even today, those same persons and swindlers and in power. Stop talking rubbish and table the IMF report in full.

Lion Friday, 09 September 2022 02:32 PM

Is this democracy claimed to be practiced by this illegal regime? IMF as an organization which stands for transparency should press SriLankan government to publish this document as the people have every right to know it’s content.

Balla and the Piduru Friday, 09 September 2022 03:37 PM

Every single day, it becomes more and more clear that the SJB is determined to sabotage the Govt. as much as they can. They have not put forward a single suggestion to resolve any issue. They are the "Balla piduru kanneth nay, kana gonata denneth nay" group. What do they want to achieve? Give Sri Lanka to the Chinese?

gamarala Friday, 09 September 2022 03:49 PM

If taxes is a sensitive information, how could they impose taxes. It is right of the people. Central Bank Governor is also responsible and he is also getting his salary from public money.

mubarak Friday, 09 September 2022 03:53 PM

The National Council consists of the same people who are in the parliament, so what's the difference

Ram Friday, 09 September 2022 03:54 PM

Susil Premjayanth once said there is no written agreement and it is all discussion. Did he lie to the Parliament and the public? From what Speaker states it appears that there is a written agreement

Neville Jayakody Friday, 09 September 2022 03:59 PM

So sensitive that no peoples representative should be able to get hold of! Only who came from backdoor to power should know of - democracy at work in full strength!

Charitha Perera Friday, 09 September 2022 04:35 PM

Who will speak for the interests of the general public. Seems parliament is not interested to inform them. Saw in another article Central Bank Governor Nandalal may seek to put a haircut on our EPF holdings. The CBSL can't keep messing us around like this. They lost billions in dollars trying to keep the dollar down, then they fix it at 200 rupees causing all sorts of havoc. Now they do their dirty trick of pegging, another name for fixing. And it seems their worst trick yet is for the vulnerable EPF. CBSL has a conflict of interest with the EPF purpose, the CB Governor is not fit to be trustee of EPF.

Martin Milton Friday, 09 September 2022 09:46 PM

This is totally unacceptable! Parliament and Members MUST be made aware of what the IMF is asking Sri Lanka top impose. If they do not know what IMF has requested how can they implement what the President wishes?? The entire Parliament headed by PM (IF he has the guts!) must protest and reverse this silly decision. MM

Jude Friday, 09 September 2022 09:55 PM

I don't know about the kind of staff level, however CPC and CEB overstaffed by More than ten thousand of political henchmen!! Yeah!!

Buddhist Friday, 09 September 2022 09:55 PM

The Constitution and Standing Order violator the current speaker is a slave of Rajapaksas/SLPP.

Mudalali Saturday, 10 September 2022 06:28 AM

A secret deal has been made which is obviously detrimental to the country. Why not handover the country to the IMF and it's allied corporations? There's no need to sign anything and waste people's time. RW and his henchmen will go down in history as the worst traitors a country could have.

Russel Harmmer Saturday, 10 September 2022 08:38 AM

Something fishy? This cannot be allowed - attention: Opposition parties.

TONI Saturday, 10 September 2022 09:45 AM

LOOKS LIKE SOME SORT OF CORRUPTION TAKING PLACE SUPPORTED BY SPEAKER

Ram Saturday, 10 September 2022 12:06 PM

Don't we have the right to know what type of tax to be paid by us. If it's secret why we nerd to pay tax and what is use of adhering to govt. Rules and regulations.

Tired of everything Saturday, 10 September 2022 01:18 PM

People have the right to know, so be transparent about everything. There can't be anything that cannot be shared with the citizens.

Quolp Saturday, 10 September 2022 10:55 PM

Produce before the parliament to understand the hidden agenda of the CONSPIRATOR, the US.

GHT Saturday, 10 September 2022 11:00 PM

The IMF is not a body expert in financial matters, but that works for the US agenda, to mislead and destroy many a countries that they are willing to be stood with individuality.

Disaster Capitalism Sunday, 11 September 2022 03:15 AM

Secrecy is the cornerstone of disaster capitalism which exists by exploiting vulnerable countries at the opportune time for insatiable cooperate greed. The shock therapy is applied for asset stripping and to milk the profits later. The multi national cooperations, the military industry and the corporate media are in cahoots. At best you can expect some 'redacted' pages. Secrecy and redacted documents are the shining examples of the free world. They will use obedient and faithful servants as their workhorses and His Master's Voice for this to continue.

Manage Sunday, 11 September 2022 07:23 AM

Speaker who is from the corrupted Rajapaksa regimen can do whatever to please the foolish regimen.

Roger Halliday Sunday, 11 September 2022 07:50 AM

The speaker is making excuses to mislead parliament. It's very clear there are going to be a lot of conditions by the IMF , but the IMF must put restriction on the ministers perks i.e vehicles pension secretaries housing phone bills fuel and other hidden allowances. Why isn't the IMF looking into the money's wasted on these ministers. Pls check the amount each minister gets and PUT. CONDITIONS please

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IMF staff level agreement cannot be given to Parliament: Speaker

Comments - 21

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