• Says no one willing to take Finance Minister post
• He was hopeful of getting debt moratoriums and said Sri Lanka can no longer go for sovereign bonds given the debt situation  

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana 

Minister Ali Sabry said in Parliament yesterday he was compelled to revoke his resignation as the Finance Minister as no one was willing to take it over. 

“No one was willing to take over the ministry as everyone was afraid of criticism they have to face given the current difficult situation. I am willing to remain as the Minister of Finance and do the needful in order to save the country’s economy, no matter what challenges I might have to face,” he said. 

“I am aware that I am on my last days in politics, but I will do what has to be done,” he said. 
“What is needed today is to introduce ways and means to ensure increased dollar revenue. I am grateful to SLPP MPs who remain with the ruling party and are trying to safeguard the government,” he also said. 
Minister Sabry said the Sri Lankan government should have rethought the tax cuts which were introduced in December 2019 when the pandemic hit the nation in the early 2020s. 

“Sri Lanka has no time to waste, unlike Pakistan, whose foreign reserves are stable. I would not like to mention about Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves level. One should not create unrest while peaceful protests are harmful. If you can show a majority in the House we are willing to sit in the opposition and hand over the reins to you,” he also said. 

He was hopeful of getting debt moratoriums and said Sri Lanka can no longer go for sovereign bonds given the debt situation. 

• What is needed today is to introduce ways and means to ensure increased dollar revenue