Harsha to summon all MPs to public finance committee

Whilst stating that it is not possible to convert Sri Lanka’s primary deficit to a surplus within three years, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP and Chairman of Public Finance Committee Dr. Harsha de Silva said he had invited all members of Parliament to a three-day meeting this week to decide on the extent of economic reforms which the nation could afford.

“The Government must have agreed with the IMF or any other organization to convert the primary deficit into a surplus within three years, but it is not possible to do so,” Dr. de Silva told a press conference.

“ I have invited all the members of Parliament for a three-day meeting of the Finance Committee this week. We shall be discussing the state revenue on the first day, state expenditure on the second day and how to deal with the budget deficit on the third day. Government had agreed to convert Sri Lanka's primary deficit which is negative at the moment, to a positive figure within three years.

However, this is not possible. One must have agreed with the IMF or any other organization to convert the primary deficit into a surplus in three years. However this is not possible. We in the SJB are supportive of economic reforms. However there should be a limit to the reforms that can be made. If the government goes ahead with reforms by force, it will end up encountering worse economic and social unrest. This is why I have asked all MPs to attend the three-day meeting of the public finance committee to discuss this issue. I hope that at least 30 MPs will attend it,” Dr. de Silva said.

Also Dr. de Silva said he will present to Parliament the auditor general’s report on coal power deals on Tuesday.(Yohan Perera)