LNP – GoSL should expedite negotiations with India

The Government of Sri Lanka should expedite negotiations with India and get assistance to purchase fuel and essential items, Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Mr. Wickremesinghe in a special statement said the Sri Lankan government should expedite these matters as the exchange rates issue had taken a turn to the worse.

“The exchange rate issue has taken to the worse. Government must either go to IMF immediately or come up with a viable alternative. It has failed to do anything,” Mr. Wickremesinghe said.

“Sri Lanka is set to face a scarcity of food by Sinhala New Year. The news coming from many sources say the harvest of paddy and other crops would be 60 percent of the amount which the country got during the last season. Government had commenced discussions with India to purchase fuel and food on credit. These negotiations should be expedited and the relevant agreements should be signed soon,” he added.