President Warns of Another Era of Queues

President Ranil Wickramasinghe has issued a stark warning to the public, stating that if power is handed over to opposition leaders Sajith Premadasa or Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the country could face another era of queues by February next year. He emphasized that if the current agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is amended as proposed by the opposition, such a scenario is inevitable.

Speaking at a meeting with legal professionals, President Wickramasinghe explained that the government, along with 18 other countries, has successfully reached agreements with the IMF, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) over the past two years. He cautioned that any deviation from these agreements, as suggested by the opposition, would lead to their collapse, necessitating the search for alternative funding sources.

“If VAT is reduced, income tax will have to be increased. You cannot change one without impacting the other,” the President said, highlighting the delicate balance required to maintain the economy. He further remarked that renegotiating with the IMF or other countries is not as simple as the opposition claims, and any missteps could plunge the country back into economic turmoil.

Addressing the opposition’s promises to combat corruption, President Wickramasinghe referenced the past efforts during the 2015 government, when the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was involved in anti-corruption initiatives. He criticized the appointment of Ananda Wijepala to lead the Secretariat of Corruption, questioning his qualifications and the effectiveness of the investigations conducted.

The President’s message was clear: deviating from the current economic plan could lead to severe consequences, and the public should be wary of promises that may not be feasible.