21 September 2022 01:38 pm Views - 2414
Arguments flared up in Parliament over the request made by Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella who wanted the details of the staff level agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) tabled in the House.
The argument heated up further when Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana said he has nothing to do with the IMF agreements. “ I cannot do anything about the IMF agreements, but will speak to President Ranil Wickremesinghe about it,” the Speaker said.
“How can you say you cannot do anything about the IMF agreement? How can you say that as Parliament is vested with powers over finances? Besides the President said there was no agreement signed with the IMF. However Sri Lankan delegation to Geneva has said there is an agreement. Please see to it that you get details on the IMF staff level agreement and table it in Parliament,” Mr. Kiriella said.
“I could not meet the President as he was abroad but, I will speak to him shortly,” the Speaker said.
MP Harsha de Silva who joined in the conversation said the Public Finance Committee also needed details about the agreement and details on the discussions with creditors on debt restructuring. It is essential that you get Parliament approval for debt restructuring measures. I was questioned at the last meeting of the public finance committee on the staff level agreement by MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara. I said I was not aware. He then questioned me as to how come I was not aware as the Chairman of the Finance Committee,” he said.
MP Shehan Semasinghe who responded said the government appreciates the work done by Dr. de Silva on financial matters. “We will let you know the details on debt restructuring. We also welcome your suggestions on it,” the MP said.
Minister Bandula Gunawardene who also responded said even the yahapalana government had borrowed funds from international sovereign bonds. There has been an issue of sovereign bonds worth Rs 1.5 billion in 2019. “We don’t intend to hide anything,'' the Minister said.
The topic of the argument changed its course when MP S. M. Marikar questioned the non-appointment of Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE ) and Committee on Public Accounts (COPA. “We will discuss and decide on the matter,” the Speaker said at this point. Mr. Kiriella said there is nothing to discuss as the Speaker himself had assured that opposition MPs will be appointed as chairpersons of COPE and COPA. “There is nothing to discuss as you yourself had given an assurance. You are tarnishing the image of Parliament,” Mr. Kiriella retaliated at the Speaker. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwrdana)