By Yohan Perera

 A new agreement with the IMF is a must in order to extend the debt repayment period to 2033 and to avoid another economic crisis, Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa said yesterday.

Winding up the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) campaign for the General Election, Premadasa said it is essential for Sri Lanka to play safer when it comes to repayment of debts.

“The previous regime has opted to begin repayment of foreign debts by 2028 though the IMF has offered a greater concession under which repayment commencement was to be 2033. Sri Lanka will go for another economic turmoil if the repayment of debt begins in 2028. A new agreement with the IMF is essential to avoid such a scenario,” he said.

He also accused the NPP government of trying to wind up the state owned Triposha factory which produces nutritious food for infants and pregnant mothers. “The factory produces 1.6 million triposha packets a month and it feeds 664,920 mothers and 925,172 children.  The factory earns an additional Rs 500 by selling serials. The present government is out to destroy such a valuable asset. The plan is to purchase triposha from the private sector,” Premadasa said.

He said an SJB government will carry out more people’s friendly programmes if elected to power.  

PIC BY Pradeep Pathirana