Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe recently addressed UNP officials, highlighting the difficult balancing act between appeasing the public and satisfying the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to save Sri Lanka’s economy. He candidly stated that any effort to stabilize the country’s financial situation would likely anger the populace.
Wickremesinghe emphasized that if the government takes measures to appease the IMF, it could lead to public unrest. “If we focus on saving the economy, people will get angry. If we try to maintain goodwill with the public, the IMF will be displeased,” he remarked. He warned that failing to heed the IMF’s strict conditions could plunge the economy into deeper turmoil.
The former president stressed that the primary objective must be the restoration of economic stability, even if it comes at the cost of public dissatisfaction. He urged the people to understand the necessity of the IMF’s stringent requirements, which are aimed at fostering long-term financial stability in the country.
Wickremesinghe made these statements during a meeting with UNP officials at the party’s political office on Flower Road, Colombo, underscoring the complex challenges faced by the government in navigating both public expectations and international economic demands.
