President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that there will be no elections until the crucial economic reform work, conducted in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is completed.
President Wickremesinghe underscored the importance of prioritising the ongoing IMF program for the country’s economic advancement when he addressed the Cabinet of Ministers and the Election Commission separately.
The President said that the comprehensive economic reform process in conjunction with the IMF holds the key to the nation’s economic progress and added that elections, including the Presidential Election will be deferred until the IMF program concludes by the end of July.
He said that the timing of the Presidential Election (September-October 2024) aligns constitutionally with the conclusion of the IMF’s financial assistance program. This strategic sequencing ensures that the IMF program remains unaffected by the electoral process.
Government sources said that the President has instructed the Cabinet and the Election Commission to focus on preparations for the Presidential Election as a priority. According to a senior Government spokesperson, this directive indicates that a General Election will not precede the Presidential polls.
