SLPP Politburo member Geethanath Cassilingam delivers a stark warning to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s administration, urging an urgent return to transparency and good governance or risk losing the support of global creditors and investors.
The government must remain firmly committed to good governance, transparency, and institutional integrity or risk losing the trust of international creditors and investors, warned Geethanath Cassilingam, Jaffna District Organizer of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and a member of its Politburo.
Cassilingam emphasized that adherence to principles of good governance is not merely a local expectation but a critical requirement imposed by international creditors, including the influential Paris Club. He cautioned that any deviation from these standards could severely undermine Sri Lanka’s credibility in the eyes of lenders and investors, particularly as the nation navigates a delicate phase of debt restructuring and economic recovery.
“The trust we’ve earned from the global community is fragile. The slightest hint of regression on transparency or institutional independence could lead to international creditors rethinking their commitment to Sri Lanka,” he said.
Cassilingam noted that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s victory in the Presidential Election was built upon promises of accountability, democratic reform, and youth empowerment. However, he expressed concern that in less than 10 months, many of these ideals appear to be eroding.
He cited the politicization of previously independent institutions, the growing suppression of youth activism, and the secrecy surrounding new bilateral agreements with foreign partners as troubling signs of regression. “The public did not vote for secrecy and suppression. This is not the mandate President Anura was given,” Cassilingam asserted.
He also warned that the erosion of good governance would severely hamper Sri Lanka’s efforts to restore the GSP Plus trade concession with the European Union, which remains contingent on strict adherence to democratic and human rights standards.
“Restoring the economy requires rebuilding international confidence, not undermining it,” he said. “The government must act responsibly and realign itself with the values that brought it to power.”
As Sri Lanka remains in a fragile economic state, Cassilingam urged the administration to return to the principles of transparency, fiscal responsibility, and public accountability to ensure continued support from global partners.
