Grant debt relief to developing countries : PM Rajapaksa

COLOMBO (News1st): Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has reiterated calls seeking international lenders to grant debt relief to developing countries. The Prime Minister made these remarks during a meeting with UN and UNICEF representatives at his Temple Trees official residence yesterday. During the discussion, the UN delegation had proposed to strengthen Sri Lanka's social security prioritizing children, elders, and persons with special needs. They had said that this would help families and reduce the impact of a recession. In response, Prime Minister Rajapaksa had said, to implement this, developing nations would require financial assistance, as economic have been affected due to COVID-19. He had pointed out that lenders such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund must prioritize the possibility of offering debt relief. The “whole of government response” is a “remarkable example,” said U.N. Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer, noting they “appreciate the way all of government has been responding” to the COVID-19 crisis.