IMF says not to release agreement until negotiations are done - President

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe President told the Parliament on Thursday (10) that the IMF had requested not to release the agreement reached between Sri Lanka and the International Monetary Fund until the current round of negotiations are complete.

The President said that previously when the country approached the IMF, talks were only with the International Monetary Fund, however, this time around discussions need to take place with other countries as well.

"Japan is speaking India and China because they are not members of the Paris Club. Amendments may take place," the President told the house

"IMF says don't release it till we finish this round of negotiations. I won't put anyone in to trouble.  The agreement has been signed and finished. we must get the others to sign. If there's a change we'll come back and tell you. But so far we don't know what China and India has to say. We have to discuss with other parties, and then the private creditors. So there was no intermediate stage. But I can keep you briefed. The targets won't change," he said.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe making a special statement to Parliament on Thursday (10) said that if policy makers are going to ignore the rights of the youth, the younger generation and the unborn, that is the worst genocide that can happen.