The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake

¶ 01 Therefore, please answer my questions precisely. You did not mention the name of the President. How do we proceed in this House on such matters?

¶ 02 Further, yesterday the Managing Director of the IMF visited Sri Lanka. We have not received additional funds for the damage caused by Cyclone “Ditwah”. We have not received longer debt repayment periods. Investment capacity has not improved. We do not need to play politics here. During Ranil Wickremesinghe’s period, all necessary approvals were given to move the economy forward. My question is this: we want to move the economy forward. Since you say this problem was not created by you, I ask:

¶ 03 Why did you not request the IMF MD yesterday to raise the PAYE threshold from Rs. 150,000 to Rs. 250,000? Why did you not ask to reduce the 30 per cent tax to 20 per cent? Why did you not ask for a longer and softer path for debt repayment than the current terms? None of this has been done. She only said that we should further increase our foreign reserves.

¶ 04 Hon. Speaker, I earnestly ask this: do not make this a joke when asked here. Without Parliament’s approval, a debt standstill cannot be done. Even if the Governor of the Central Bank said so, if it is wrong, it must be corrected. Why do we allow casual finger-pointing at Parliament’s responsibilities? I am surprised that a knowledgeable Minister gives such an Answer. We need a separate debate on the declaration that this country was bankrupt without Parliament’s approval. I ask the Minister: according to your Answer, are we allowing the violation of Articles 148, 149 and 150 of the Constitution?