UK Parliament discusses attaching HR conditions to IMF bailout

COLOMBO (News 1st); Conservative Member of the Parliament of United Kingdom, Eliot Colburn urged for the UK Government ensure that any IMF bail-out is attached to human rights conditions, similar to that of GSP+.

UK MP Eliot Colburn also pointed out that while the economic crisis on the island has indeed led to increased militarization in Sri Lanka, the Rajapaksa Government continues to fall apart.

Member of the United Kingdom Parliament and the The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Vicky Ford has insisted that the current economic situation in Sri Lanka does not distract the country from human rights, and in response to MP Colburn, stated that the UK will work with fellow members on international debt forums on a solution to the country’s debt problem, and to improve the situation with regard to human rights.

The UK Parliament Member, speaking further, mentioned that although the articles of the IMF do allow for conditionality linked to economic policy or to tackling the balance of payments, there is no provision to impose political-linked or human rights-linked conditionality in the IMF process.

Therefore, Ford said that they will work with fellow members on international debt forums on a solution to the country’s debt problem, as well as continuing to lobby the Sri Lankan Government and working in other international forums on human rights.

MP Ford continued to state that the Prime Minister had underlined UK’s continuing support for the people of Sri Lanka during their economic difficulties, and offered UK support through multilateral organizations such as the World Bank and IMF, and international forums such as the Paris Club.

"We have a very significant voice on international debt forums and we are working closely with Paris Club members and multilateral organizations to find solutions to the debt crisis." she added.