Water Supply Minister Vasudewa Nanayakkara speaking to a briefing held yesterday (19) said his early comments on not being in the government anymore over any decision to seek the support of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were based on the guarantee made by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the Cabinet that such an action would not be taken.
“There should also be a collective responsibility. In any event was there a problem in the collective responsibility, we should be finding solutions to that as well. A collective responsibility is also possible in the event of a Cabinet decision made without our knowledge. But we remind the fact that we have the right to raise our concerns separately because the decision was not made with our understanding and consent.
If there is a chance to vote at Parliament, we would use our vote against the resolution even today.”
Q: There was a vote for the Budget in the recent days?
“The Yugadanavi was not in the Budget, was it? I was in the stance of not being in the government if it decides to seek the support of the IMF. Because Mr. Basil Rajapaksa clearly mentioned at the Cabinet that it is even impossible to imagine of a deal with the IMF at this point.”
“The Rich Class of this country makes no sacrifices. They enjoy their luxuries and travel around the world as usual, along with their entire families in the holidays. Not the Ministers.”
Q: But Finance Minister Basil too left the country about two days ago?
“Mr. Basil’s family is in abroad. So he has to go there. Who else he should be seeing other than his family?”
