By Saman Indrajith
SJB Colombo District MP Dr Harsha de Silva told Parliament yesterday that as per some of its contents, the IMF Staff-Level Agreement might turn out to be lottery win for some persons.
“I have a copy of this so-called IMF Staff-Level Agreement. As per some sensitive matters agreed by the government, this could be a jackpot hit for some persons. This agreement was not submitted to the Parliament Finance Committee; however it has been given to some outsiders. We demand to know how this agreement, not given to Parliament, was passed on to others,” Dr. de Silva asked.
Dr de Silva said that he received the copy, not through the channels of Parliament. “The President has given copies of the agreement to some persons who are on several committees he appointed. How could that happen? I do not table this agreement because then I would be accused of leaking some sensitive contents in the agreement,” he said.
State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya: You know the economic situation prevailing in the country. You have obtained this document not from official channels. Do not read it out and instill fear in people.
Try to understand the challenges before us.
Dr de Silva:
That is why I do not read this out to the House. I do not reveal it because I have an understanding of the responsibility.
State Finance Minister Siyambalapitiya:
What is being portrayed is worse than the content. You are the Chairman of the Finance Committee. What you do is wrong. It is wrong to make this document public.
Dr de Silva:
If it is wrong to release this document, tell me why it was leaked.
SLPP MP Dilan Perera:
Siyambalapitiya is my friend. So, I can ask him to be truthful and not to hide this.
Minister Siyambalapitiya:
I am not going to contradict you. All I am asking is not to read out a document that has been obtained from improper channels. Dr de Silva is a senior economist with responsibilities. It is wrong to read them out to create doubts.
Dr de Silva
: I always act with utmost responsibility. That is why I am not tabling this. This document has all information.