World Watch

COLOMBO, March 23: Sri Lankan government on Thursday accused the opposition of trying to undermine the crucial IMF bailout by holding a meeting with Colombo-based top diplomats of a dozen countries, including India and the US, and seeking their help in getting the global lender to impose tougher conditions for the package. The accusation came days after the International Monetary Fund approved a USD 2.9 billion bailout programme to help the debt-ridden country overcome its economic crisis and catalyse financial support from other development partners. Speaking in parliament, Chief Government Whip and Minister of Urban Development Prasanna Ranatunga claimed that the opposition at a secret meeting with foreign diplomats called for stringent conditions to be applied when the IMF starts releasing the disbursements. “The opposition has asked the countries to delay the IMF facility or put stringent conditions,” he said. (PTI)