DebtJustice4SL

Top economists incl. @JosephEStiglitz @PikettyWIL @Jayati1609 @yanisvaroufakis @StephanieKelton @jasonhickel @kateraworth @FadhelKaboub call for halt to Sri Lanka debt repayments after Cyclone Ditwah. @YukthiSL @IMFNews @debtjustice @eurodad @AFRODAD2011 theguardian.com/business/2025/…

Why Sri Lanka must mobilise its monetary and fiscal capacity. @Jayati1609 @YukthiSL @debtjustice @MoFSriLanka @anuradisanayake

When Sri Lanka faced its financial crisis in 2022, the IMF approved a 4‑year Extended Fund Facility after months of negotiation. Yet the Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) failed to account for climate shocks. With recent climate calamities, it is now impossible for Sri Lanka to stay aligned with the IMF programme. The Climate Vulnerable Forum has long called for reforming the DSA to properly value resilience investments and natural capital, and for a reformed G20 Common Framework that includes automatic debt standstills in response to climate shocks. @KGeorgieva @POGourinchas @TheCVF #SriLanka #ClimateChange #DebtJustice #IMF #ClimateFinance #Resilience #GlobalSouth

@erangatennakoon This myth needs to be debunked and not promoted. The rich did NOT pay for his education 😱. The government spending comes first and taxes follow … youtu.be/xnYhGD7xNig?si…

You dont see these on the leading media. Isn't this true?

Tax reform options for Sri Lanka. ipe-sl.org/wp-content/upl… @icrict @FaccioTommaso @TaxJusticeUK @QParrinello @arodriguezllach @latindadd @taxobservatory @Jayati1609

@SPriyawickrama @alisabrypc @talalrafi7 @sajithpremadasa @RW_SRILANKA @Chithralfernand @PrasadPolitixLK @HarshadeSilvaMP @EranWick Hope @anuradisanayake & @Dr_HariniA do NOT use India as a template for development. Whilst 100s of millions live there in abject poverty, a few tax-evading elite exploit them @live off their hard work. A fairer & just economic model is essential for SL. wid.world/www-site/uploa…

Ali Sabry(@alisabrypc) and Talal Rafi(@talalrafi7), two very smart people, have been saying what I’ve been saying for years: Sri Lanka must integrate with the Indian economy. Big league. India is right next door — a huge, booming economy, 1.4 billion people, tremendous opportunities. If we don’t get smart and work with India, we’re going to lose. Big time. I’ve always been a strong supporter of India–Sri Lanka economic integration. Always. That’s how you build prosperity, that’s how you win. But what do we have? We’ve got the NPP/JVP, SLPP, SLFP — all the same old LEFTIST clowns — corrupting people’s minds with their Anti-Indian, Anti-FTA, protectionist, import-substitution nonsense. Total disaster. These idiots are killing our potential. They’re keeping the country poor while the rest of the world is getting rich. What we need & we need it fast — is a STRONG + BOLD political movement. People who aren’t afraid to tell the truth, educate the people, and fight for integration with India, China, ASEAN — everybody! We can’t let stupid, small-minded politicians hold us back anymore. It’s time to think big. Open up the economy. Win again!

@talalrafi7 Surrendering to the irrational, illogical and a bullying Trump is terrible advice. Para tariffs are a way for SL to raise revenue or protect domestic industries which is essential. SL should pivot towards the global south and away from exploitative imperialist nations.

My comments. 30% tariffs is a hard hit for Sri Lanka. We should have at least agreed to eliminate para tariffs on American imports (reducing para tariffs is part of IMF requirements anyway). Vietnam has got away with only 20% because they agreed to eliminate duties on American goods. Even if our imports from US increased by 50%, the hit on our current account would only be less than $300 million. But even a 25% reduction in our exports to the US would result in a hit of $750 million on our current. Like Vietnam if we had agreed to reduce duties etc, we could have gotten away for much lower. But these new tariffs will result in lower demand in the US resulting in lower exports. It would be highly advisable for Sri Lanka to postpone the 18% digital VAT. It is only expected to add 0.04% GDP of revenue which is only around $32 million in revenue for our government. This new tax will be mostly affecting American companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon etc which are close to Trump. Trump has any country adding new taxes on American goods will face same tariffs. If Trump hears about SL's 18% digital tax and adds another 18% tariff on SL, we could face 48% tariffs which will destroy our $3 billion exports to US. Trying to gain just $32 million and risking losing $3,000 million would be one of the worst ideas. We should not try applying for BRICS or speak of that now. Anyway BRICS membership will take years to materialize but it risks an additional 10% tariff from Trump.

@Dailymirror_SL Sri Lanka must reject imperial dictates and chart a sovereign path with the Global South. Living within our means may bring short-term pain, but true development won’t come by pleasing former colonial powers. @anuradisanayake @MoFSriLanka @CBSL

U.S. President Donald Trump added Sri Lanka to his widening list of trade targets on Wednesday. More on this story: dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/… #srilanka #dmonline #dailymirrorlk #srilankanews

@Dinouk_C It’s good he engaged with this undemocratic organisation and mentioned issues important to SL rather than be driven by the agendas of the economic elite and neoliberal groups.

The footage of Sunil Handunnetti at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025 highlighted the government's inability to grasp the nuance, or even demonstrate an understanding, of geopolitics. The Govt. would have been better off not sending anyone.

@advocatalk Facilitating the education of just a few wealthy people, is not a strategy the government should pursue. That is frightening !!! Investing in public education is critical. Implementing a progressive taxation policy and democratising the central bank is therefore necessary.

Scared to Say 'Private' 🏢⚠️ This video breaks down the fear of privatization — and how it’s holding back progress and efficiency 💬🔒 #srilanka #Economy #privatization #efficiency

@HarshadeSilvaMP The lack of strong condemnation of illegal bombing by Israel against Palestinians, Lebanese & Iranian people is disappointing. Silence on US bombing of Iran is also poor. These actions of violence by imperialist & colonialists against the global south should be always called out.

We warmly welcome the #IsraelIranCeasefire, a crucial step to halt a conflict that has already drawn in regional countries including Iraq and Qatar. The potential closure of the #StraitOfHormuz—handling 20% of global oil and LNG—could trigger a severe inflationary shock, driving up energy costs worldwide. This, combined with the ongoing conflict, risks crippling the debt-ridden economies of the #GlobalSouth, especially in South Asia. For #SriLanka, this endangers oil imports, electricity stability, and tourist arrivals—vital lifelines as we rebuild from the 2022 crisis and #COVID-19. Guided by the #Bandung Communique, Sri Lanka urges all stakeholders to exercise maximum restraint. Our bonds of friendship with the people of #Iran and #Israel alike remain strong, reflecting our steadfast #NonAligned position. The lives of billions are at stake, and escalation could destabilize the world. We advocate for a #TwoStateSolution to resolve the #IsraelPalestineconflict, a root cause of this turmoil. #SriLanka stands with Global South peers to foster dialogue and stability, leveraging our non-aligned heritage to protect our people and the global order.

@KusumW Appointing a ST experienced in only neoliberalism is harmful to SL which has high levels of inequality & in debt distress. Need a competent ST who is open to explore alternatives. The ‘governance’ systems cannot be about safeguarding the status quo!! Who can you suggest as ST?

I wonder if Lakmali Hemachandra will accept how utterly inappropriate the appointment of Harshana Suriyapperuma is & what it says about our governance systems.

@KusumW @UmeshMoramudali NPP manifesto was not promoting neoliberalism & people voted for system change. 159 MPs need support of a civil service that is capable to develop innovative policies that go wider than neoliberalism to help deliver progressive policies. Need a ST to help widen expertise base.

@UmeshMoramudali @dj4sl There are trained economists in fin min for role of Treasury Sec; if you want anti-neoliberal economic policy it has to be legislated through Parliament. You could have renegotiated the IMF program away from neoliberal principles, instead you politicize the civil service?

Previous experiences of Political Appointees to senior positions in critical, highly technical departments of the civil service: Arjuna Mahendran & Nivard Cabraal: CBSL Governor P B Jayasundera: Finance Secretary

@KusumW “Sri Lanka’s Road to Recovery: Debt and Governance 16 June 2025” Event took place during IMF’s Gita Gopinath’s visit. See the list of panelists & speakers- except for the government ministers, it didn’t seem to have panelists with progressive views 😮. Doesn’t serve SL.

@KusumW Economics departments in SL universities only promote a neoliberal syllabus to students. The civil service needs individuals who can challenge the failed ideology if system change is desired. Suggest a name of a person with a track record of progressive policies for the FS post?

@RegularReh A good NPP decision 👏👏. The Finance Secretary should not just be accountable for important technical issues but also have an understanding of policy impact on society & environment. System change is necessary. The Secretary will have access to all the technical expertise.

Extremely absurd. Treasury Secretary is an important, non-political, technical job. Not one for politicians to do.

NEW REPORT. Alternative External Debt Restructuring Strategy Framework: Aligning with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Currency Earnings and Capacity to Pay. ipe-sl.org/alternative-de… @CBSL @IMFNews @Jayati1609 @debtjustice @eurodad @AsianPeoplesMvt

@NalakaG @himalkk Communist state …

@dj4sl @himalkk If “socialism has not been given a full chance”, what was the late USSR doing for 70+ years before it imploded under the weight of its own dreadful ideology?

Still flogging a dead horse !! @himalkk fails to mention the gross level of inequality, poverty & ecological destruction caused by the neoliberal agenda even in USA & UK. Let’s face it - socialism has not been given a full chance … without being undermined by the global elite.