Lakmali Hemachandra, a National People’s Power (NPP) MP, has criticized the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement negotiated during the tenure of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, arguing that he lacked the mandate to enter into such an agreement on behalf of the country.
Speaking in Parliament, Hemachandra stated that her party, which was in opposition at the time, strongly opposed the IMF program, emphasizing that a president without a clear public mandate should not commit the nation to significant international agreements. She noted that while the NPP resisted the program, other opposition parties supported the deal despite Wickremesinghe’s lack of legitimacy following his controversial parliamentary appointment as president.
Hemachandra explained that now, as part of the ruling government, the NPP is compelled to continue implementing the IMF program due to the country’s legal obligations. She acknowledged that this has placed the burden of addressing the consequences of past policy decisions on the current administration.
“We are bound by law to carry forward this agreement, even though we were never in favor of it,” she said, adding that the mistakes of previous governments have now become the responsibility of her party to rectify.
Her remarks highlight the complex political dynamics surrounding Sri Lanka’s engagement with the IMF, particularly as the nation grapples with economic recovery and the challenges of implementing structural reforms tied to the program.
