The Sri Lanka Ambassador to China, Palitha Kohona, in an interview with GLobal Times published today, said it is hoped that terms and conditions attached to the IMF package will not be “onerous.”
“It’s inevitable whenever the IMF comes along we will have to tighten our belt,” he said, “but in some cases it’s difficult because the belt is already on the last notch. We’re worried that the IMF may insist that we curtail our state-fund health care system. The education system which is free from grade one to university level might be another area the IMF recommends to cut.” In addition to the deadly impact of such “conditionalities,” he pointed out that these policies “may add to the unrest.”
