Agriculture, Land, Irrigation and Livestock Minister K. D. Lalkantha stated that the Government is committed to achieving debt repayment capability by 2028, while staying on course with the reform programme agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Addressing the media yesterday (July 3) following a special District Development Committee meeting held at the Kandy District Secretariat, the Minister emphasised that the current economic stability is the result of strict adherence to the IMF-backed recovery programme, and reaffirmed the Government’s determination to continue along this path.
“We are operating within the IMF framework proposed for Sri Lanka, and we have no intention of disrupting that. The present stability is due to our cooperation with the IMF. Once we complete the remaining targets, we expect to reach a position to repay our debt after 2028,” Lalkantha said.
He dismissed criticisms from the Opposition, stating that national policy decisions will not be reversed due to external pressure such as protests or strikes. “We will adjust prices according to the approved pricing formulas—whether they rise or fall. Policy will be guided by sound economics, not emotional outbursts or political noise,” he added.
Lalkantha warned that reversing essential reforms for short-term political gain would jeopardize the country’s hard-earned progress. “This country collapsed before. Now, it is recovering due to disciplined internal management. We won’t let that unravel because of populist pressure.”
Commenting on ongoing fiscal planning, the Minister revealed that discussions on the upcoming national budget are already underway. He said the Government’s intention is to offer more relief than in the previous budget while staying within the bounds of fiscal responsibility.
“The Leader of the Opposition can shout as much as he wants. We will not abandon the country’s long-term recovery path to appease short-term politics,” the Minister concluded.
