Media reported last week IMF review on Sri Lanka is scheduled for June 12th. Along with the announcement of this review date by IMF UNP general secretary Range Bandara made a statement to the media and said to implement the IMF programme forward Ranil and the current parliament should be granted two more years. He proposed through a referendum without holding the upcoming presidential and general elections that the term of Ranil and Parliament should be extended by two more years, all Weekend English newspapers made a valiant attempt last weekend to highlight the general secretary of UNP made this statement without the knowledge of President Ranil. Further to this these media reported that UNP and President Ranil have expressed their dissatisfaction with this statement.
However this week UNP general secretary confirmed his statement once again to the media. Initially, if he had made this statement without the knowledge of Ranil he wouldn’t confirm the statement once again to the media. Inside sources of UNP affirm this statement of the general secretary is made with the blessings of Ranil. Social posts which appears in Ranil media unit all confirm this General Secretary’s statement above.
When IMF review is around the corner statement of this nature by UNP general secretary raises doubt whether the IMF too in support of the postponement of elections in Sri Lanka. IMF never raised their voice when the local government elections were postponed before. Rajapakses turned to China by passing Western countries for aid because Western nations countries more worried and placed conditions on Sri Lanka on democracy, human rights etc. Nevertheless china grant aids not only to Sri Lanka but to any county without any concerns about placing conditions on democracy and human rights for those countries.
Ranil’s government, which is talking about postponing the elections, has received IMF assurance and comparing the assurances given to the Rajapaksa there appears to be no difference between Chinese aid and IMF aid. Even though the Rajapaksa governments suppressed democracy, violated human rights, and repressed minorities, they did not talk about postponing the national elections. This is a dangerous situation, nonetheless making such statements knowing the IMF review date nearby is even more dangerous.
Following the UNP general secretary’s statement, Ranil’s announcement that the presidential election would be held on the due date and the Prime minister criticizing the UNP general secretary’s statement may be due to the pressure exerted by the Western diplomatic missions in the country. Nevertheless, the UNP general secretary’s affirmation of the same statement indicates that Ranil has a scheme to postpone the election.
Granting a six-month service extension to the Attorney general who justified the postponement of the Local government election is an indication Ranil hatching a plan to postpone elections. For this, he is utilizing the IMF programme. If IMF does not voice their opinion that could raise suspicions all this happens with their blessings.
