Details on the staff level agreement which Sri Lanka has reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cannot be given to Parliament as it contains some sensitive matters with regard to taxes, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene announced today.
“ I have discussed the IMF staff level agreement with the Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and he is not against presenting it to Parliament and he informed me that the issue is that it contains sensitive matters with regard to taxes,” the Speaker said.
He came out with this remark when Chief Opposition whip Lakshman Kiriella said the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) intends to call for a debate on it.
“ We want a debate on the IMF staff level agreement but it has to be tabled in the House before the debate take place,” he said.
Leader of the House Susil Premajayantha said the agreement will be presented to the national council which comprises all parties as well once it is established. “ We will establish the national council soon and then we can present the IMF staff level agreement to it and get the opinion of party leaders,” he said.
SJB MP Hesha Withanage proposed that sensitive information in the staff level agreement should be left out while the other details should be presented to the House.