COLOMBO :The Sri Lanka government has ruptured all its friendly relations with prospective funding nations because of its ill-planned foreign policy, opposition MP Harsha de Silva told the media on Monday, June 13. He added that the island cannot expect funds from these countries unless it forms an all-party government that could gain the confidence of the international world.
Dr. de Silva revealed that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohamed Bin Salman has questioned if Sri Lanka has a concrete plan on the matter.
When contacted by the Maldivian Speaker Mohamed Nasheed on financial assistance for Sri Lanka, the Saudi Crown Prince has said not to raise the matter until Sri Lanka draws up a concrete plan for resolving its economic crisis, the opposition MP said.
The SJB MP also said that the Ruler of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has said he will consider the matter if Sri Lanka can send a list of things that remain to be sold.
India has questioned why Sri Lanka needs more aid after providing aid worth millions of Dollars consecutively.
He also said that the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka had noted that the next fuel shipment via the Indian Credit Line will reach Sri Lanka on the 17th of June, while Sri Lanka is yet to make a payment for a Gas Shipment that is anchored at sea.
China has refused to provide a US$ 1.5 billion loan to Sri Lanka,
The government chased away and ended all dealings with the United States of America and they also have fallen out with the European Union (EU), where it is unsure if Sri Lanka can even save its GSP+ programme, he pointed out.
“Japan has lost complete faith in Sri Lanka,” said De Silva recently.
Commenting on a recent meeting with the Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Dr. Hasha said that if Japan is to award a short-term credit facility to the island nation, an all party government must be established or the agreement must be signed by the Government as well as the Opposition.
“Opposition MPs will never sign agreements for credit facilities sought by the government,” he told reporters adding that the only solution is for an all party government to be established.
“I met the President on the evening on the 10th. Houses were burnt on the 9th. I told the President that what the people want is his resignation and for the executive presidency to be abolished. The President told me “Harsha do you expect me to resign tomorrow?” I told him he does not have to resign tomorrow. We cannot do that according to the constitution. I told him to set a certain time period to resign and that we can form an all party government and face this together,” said the MP.
He also noted that the president is not willing to give up the powers held by him and his family, and provide relief to the people.
“The leader of the United National Party Ranil Wickremesinghe took over the post of prime minister without any condition. Now what has happened? Now the President is saying he will not resign,” said Dr. Harsha De Silva.
