All-party govt, the best way to resolve crisis situation - President

The best way to resolve the current crisis situation in the country is an all-party government, President Ranil Wickremesinghe says.

He made this remark delivering a special statement while at the President’s House in Kandy this evening (July 30).

The Head of State, who is currently on a visit to Kandy, also paid homage to Sri Dalada Maligawa. This marks his first visit to the historic landmark site after taking office as the President of Sri Lanka last week.

On Friday (July 29), President Wickremesinghe extended an invitation to all Members of Parliament to join discussions on forming an all-party government to create economic and social stability in the country.

Speaking further at the presidential residence in Kandy today, the Head of State said, “Although I have accepted the presidency, the economic challenges faced by the people still continue to exist. Shortage of gas, fertilizer, fuel, rise in commodity prices, loss of employment, loss of capital for infrastructure projects exist in every city of the country.”

If we put the country’s situation into perspective, there will not be a country anymore if the situation further deteriorates, President Wickremesinghe remarked.

“The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is forecast to contract by 7 percent this year, and we need to find solutions for this. There is no point in shouting out old battle cries without finding solutions,” he stressed.

“Some people say the economic crisis occurred because [former] President Gotabaya Rajapaksa did not bring down fertilizer. However, we say that this economic crisis happened because they did not go to the IMF [International Monetary Fund] in time. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) says that the reason for the economic crisis is the large number of loans taken by the previous government. I would like to question if there is a point in debating about it instead of working towards solving it? Some say they are organizing protest marches to tell me to go home. I kindly ask them not to do that because I don’t have a home now. If you are ready, kindly bring a large crowd to rebuild my residence. After the house is built, then come and ask me to go home. There is no point in telling a man who has no home, to go home. It is just a waste of time. Help build the country or build my house. But don’t tell me to go home.”

The President also stated that the country is still engaged in old politics.

Wickremesinghe said that after he became the prime minister and finance minister earlier this year, Sri Lanka held discussions with the IMF and found a series of solutions to these problems. He added that he intended to come to a staff-level agreement with the IMF by July and get the IMF approval by August 01. “However, nothing happened since July 09 until now. Now it has been delayed until the end of August and we are expecting to get it approved by September only.”

Speaking further, the President said that the youths first gathered to the protest site saying that the country needs reforms and that he has no objection to that. However, certain people took over the protests and led it towards violence, he remarked.

“Just because we take money from the IMF, do not think that all problems will be solved. Our debts have increased. How will we pay these debts? We need more foreign exchange and need new ways to bring in forex to the country.”

President Wickremesinghe noted that the first duty of the authorities is to protect peace and uphold the law of the country, irrespective of the party. “This is why I invited the leaders of all parties in writing to join in creating an all-party government. The best way to solve the problems of the country is through an all-party government. Everyone accepts that this is how it must be done.”