Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Member of Parliament, Kabir Hashim, raised serious concerns in Parliament today over the approval sought for a supplementary estimate aimed at reimbursing the Central Bank of Sri Lanka for payments made to financial and legal consultants involved in the country’s debt restructuring process. The amount in question totals Rs. 3.2 billion (approximately 7.5 million USD).
Hashim criticized the current administration for its handling of the debt issue, stating that while former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his government came to Parliament with a vision to rebuild the country, the current government, led by President Anura Dissanayake, is coming to Parliament “without clothes.” This metaphorical remark was aimed at highlighting what Hashim sees as a lack of transparency and accountability in the current government’s approach to economic challenges.
The SJB MP also emphasized the importance of obtaining parliamentary approval before implementing any debt sustainability agreement with international sovereign bondholders. He insisted that Members of Parliament should be fully informed about the details of the agreement, especially regarding whether the current government is continuing with the previous administration’s plan or entering into a new one.
