NPP will seek mandate to amend and continue IMF agreement: Vijitha

• Has made clear to the IMF delegation that the economy cannot be revived without changing the current political culture

By Ajith Siriwardana   
The National People’s Power (NPP) will seek a mandate to continue the IMF agreement after making amendments on conditions detrimental to the people, NPP MP Vijitha Herath said yesterday. 

• the NPP will go before the people and seek a mandate to remove detrimental proposals in the agreement such as exorbitant taxes, price hikes in goods and services and selling state property

He told a news conference that the NPP representatives met the IMF delegation yesterday and briefed them on the NPP’s stance on the agreement.   
He said the NPP will go before the people and seek a mandate to remove detrimental proposals in the agreement such as exorbitant taxes, price hikes in goods and services and selling state property.   
The MP said they briefed the IMF delegation on the actions to be taken with regard to the IMF agreement.   
“It is good that the IMF team is aware of what the NPP government will do,” he said.   
MP Herath said the main purpose of the government in seeking IMF bailout is to restructure local and foreign debt and added that the government has not been able to restructure its foreign debt even long  after signing the IMF agreement.   
He said the IMF team apprised the NPP that debt restructuring has not taken place as yet and that a definite timeframe cannot be given to complete the process.   
The MP said they explained to the IMF delegation that the economy cannot be revived without changing the current political culture.   
“We explained to them that the NPP government will amend proposals in the agreement regarding the selling of state property and burdening the people.