COLOMBO (TIP): Sri Lanka is not in the position to hold a snap presidential election this year because of the ongoing economic crisis and the government’s focus is on debt restructuring, Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena said on June 15.
“No election would be possible this year as the state finances have not improved,” Gunawardena said while responding to speculation that the government might opt to hold a snap presidential election.
He said the government’s focus, for now, is centred on successfully ending the process of debt restructuring.
Former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected as the President of Sri Lanka by the Parliament to serve the remainder of ex-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s term, which was supposed to end in November 2024.
The IMF extended a nearly USD 3 billion bailout facility to debt-ridden Sri Lanka to help stabilise the country’s economy after it was jolted by a devastating economic crisis last year. (PTI)