No reason for the third IMF tranche to delay: Former State Minister of Finance

By Yohan Perera   

Highlighting that third tranche of IMF is delayed while some banks are facing a liquidity issue, former State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe yesterday said the hierarchy of the government should inform the nation of the true status of the economy.  

“Our government had a successful discussions with the IMF and the creditors and we ensured that it will be smooth going for the new government where the economy is concerned. There was no room what so ever for a setback. We also ensured that the IMF third tranche would come immediately. However we wonder why the third tranche is delayed indefinitely,” Senasinghe told Daily Mirror.   

“There no way you can play politics with the economy. Those in the government should listen to the Central Bank Governor and Treasury Secretary,” he added.  

He said there is there is no room for money printing at all as per the New Central Bank Act.   

Also the former State Minister said the former government set the stage for the salary increment for the public servants. “We were to ease the importation ban on vehicles by next year and the plan was to use those funds for the salary increment. We created a sound situation to implement this plan. Present government should do it as there is no obstacle for it,” he said in this regard.   

Meanwhile Former MP Madura Vithanage who elaborated on the salary issue during a media conference came up with a new disclosure that all members of the Udaya Seneviratne committee are working for the present government now. He refuted claims made by the government that no funds have been allocated for the salary hike.   

The latest criticism of the government by members of the former government comes after Minister Herath refuted claims that the present government has begun printing money and that no funds have been allocated to increase salaries of public servants.