IMF loan for development

It is to continue countrywide economic development work concurrently with a costly war against barbaric terrorists not withstanding the pressures of the international economic meltdown that the Government has applied for an IMF loan of US$ 1.9 billion (Rs. 19 billion).

There is no valid reason for UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to raise a hue and cry about it, Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.

The Minister made this observation addressing a UPFA election rally held at Kadawatha on Sunday. The rally was in support of UPFA candidate Nimal Bopage who is contesting the Western Provincial Council election from the Gampaha district.

Alahapperuma said Wickremesinghe who was trying to censure the Government on this issue had forgotten that he canvassed a Rs. 45 billion (US $ 4.5 billion) loan from the Tokyo donors in 2003 when the UNF Government was in the saddle.

The loan canvassed by Wickremesinghe was specifically for Northern Development and had it come through under the dubious ceasefire agreement a large portion of it would have surreptitiously gone to LTTE coffers to strengthen Eelam Banks, and the Eelam Courts and Police network.

Furthermore the country would have been subjected to stringent stipulations leaving room for foreigners to meddle the country’s sovereignty.

Alahapperuma said unlike the Wickremesinghe regime, the Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa had the courage and strength to withstand the pressures of international forces.

The US$ 1.9 billion IMF loan would not entail any stringent conditions and stipulations inimical to national interest.

Alahapperuma who predicted complete victory for the heroic forces engaged in humanitarian operations in the North with the fall of the final LTTE bastion within the next few weeks, said such victory would ensure the building of a new Sri Lanka in the Sinhala and Hindu New Year.

Therefore voters in the Western Province including Gampaha district should strengthen the Government’s hands by electing youthful, vibrant UPFA candidates at the forthcoming election.

Ministers Dilan Perera, Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Mahinda Amaraweera also spoke.