The International Monetary Fund, India, and all friendly nations will help Sri Lanka after the formation of a stable government, former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya said.
Jayasuriya, one of the all time great of the game, hailed India for providing financial aid since the economic crisis struck the neighbouring island nation. He said India is playing a “big role” in Sri Lanka.
“After peaceful transition of president and prime minister, when politicians start a stable government, IMF, India and all friendly countries will start coming out and help Sri Lanka. India has been very helpful since the start of this crisis and India (has) given lot of aid to Sri Lanka. So we are thankful for that,” he said.
In April, Sri Lanka announced that it was suspending repayment of foreign loans due to foreign currency shortage. The South Asian nation is relying on aid from India and other countries as leaders try to negotiate a bailout package with the IMF. With unprecedented fuel and food shortages, the Sri Lankan government is under pressure to repay $28 billion of the total $51 billion foreign debt by the end of 2027.
Jayasuriya, who has been a vocal critic of the government’s handling of the economy, said that the speaker, senior politicians and party leaders need to make a quick decision now.
