Attributing President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s call for opposition political parties to support the Government’s programme to an opportunistic and dishonest invitation, Opposition Parliamentarian, Prof. G.L. Peiris said that they would never be a part of a programme under this President or this Government.

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday (12), he said that while the President is always inviting the opposition to support the Government’s programme, there is however a doubt regarding the motive behind it. “The President’s theme is ‘let’s get together as there’s no need for divisions’. He openly invites us to get together with him and work. However, a doubt arises as to whether this is an honest invitation or an opportunistic attempt.” Although Wickremesinghe is now inviting the opposition to present their proposals with regard to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, he charged that the Government had discarded their proposals when the staff level agreement was being reached with the IMF. “The President now says that he is ready to invite the top leadership of the IMF to Sri Lanka, and invites the opposition to participate in those discussions. However, the Government did not consider the proposals made by us and academics and trade unions when the staff level agreement was being reached.” Speaking further, Prof. Peiris said that there is a risk of the Government’s programme to stabilise the economy collapsing due to large-scale corruption including the provision of tax relief to tycoons who are loyal to the Government, adding that Wickremesinghe is inviting the opposition to join him in sharing that failure. “The Government has to date not achieved any progress. Instead, the entire programme is at risk of collapsing. It is to overcome that and share that failure that he invites us. There is no honest motive behind it, and it is completely an opportunistic invitation. We will not fall prey to it at all.”

Wickremesinghe, who was elected to the Presidency after former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned amid massive public protests in 2022, has been maintaining the stance that his primary objective is to alleviate the economic crisis which has arisen in the country. For that, he is constantly calling on the opposition led by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya to join him regardless of party affiliations and the most recent invitation was made during his speech when the fifth session of the ninth Parliament was inaugurated on 7 February.