Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa called on the Government to focus on providing relief to the public instead of continuing with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement in a manner that places further burdens on the people.

Speaking to the media in a special statement on Monday (5), Premadasa claimed that IMF officials and representatives had informed President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that fuel prices in Sri Lanka should be increased under a cost-recovery pricing mechanism.

He said the Government had received a mandate from the people on the promise that it would amend the IMF agreement, which he described as placing a burden on the public.

However, Premadasa alleged that the Government had failed to fulfil that commitment and that the IMF agreement had now become a setback for the administration.

He said the Government should instead take steps to provide relief to the public and avoid implementing measures that would further increase the cost of living.

Premadasa stressed that the Government’s focus should be on easing the burden on the people rather than continuing policies that, he claimed, would impose additional costs on them.