PHU tells President Start talks with IMF for amending debt-restructuring plan

Asks for calling international donor conference, NGO summit 

By Kelum Bandara  

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) has put forward proposals in writing to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for rebuilding the country.  

In the letter signed by party leader Udaya Gammanpila, the PHU has asked for the establishment of a disaster management council in terms of the Disaster Management Act.  

Asserting that it is the body that ensures the joint approach between the government and the opposition in disaster management, the PHU leader said the President had not at least made appointments to the council, denying the opportunity for the opposition to play its role in such a task.  

In a 25-point letter , Mr. Gammanpila said that an international donor conference should be called under the chair of countries such as India, China, Japan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and European Union. The PHU, having noted estimates by some experts that the country would require at least US $ 8 billion to rebuild the country.  

There is now an opportunity for raising such a large amount of money at the moment. That is because tourists who visited during the last few years after the 2022 economic crisis are creating a public opinion in their respective countries on the need to assist Sri Lanka at this time. Against the backdrop, if a donor conference is held, the government will be in a position to raise funds .India, China and Japan are the most influential countries in the Asian region. The UAE is an affluent country that is influential in the Arab region, and also close to Sri Lanka. It is the duty of the Foreign Affairs Ministry to act in this regard, the PHU wrote.  

The PHU leader also asks for a summit of local and foreign NGOs to tap on their skills and resources to build the nation.  

He asks for talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to amend the country’s debt restructuring plan.  

New resettlement schemes for people constantly affected by floods and landslides, de-politicization of the rehabilitation process, consultation of the former Presidents for their experience in disaster response, the appointment of an experienced administrative service official as Secretary to the President are among other proposals.  

Also, Mr. Gammanpila calls for the presentation of a new budget for 2026, implementation of a programme for food security and promotion of urban agriculture and home gardening.