Britain to oppose IMF loan to Sri Lanka over plight of Refugees

by lalith | July 24, 2009 at 10:15 am

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Britain to oppose IMF loan to Sri Lanka over plight of Tamil refugees

Britain was poised tonight to take an unprecedented stand against a US $2.5 billion loan being extended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Sri Lanka because of fears over the humanitarian situation in the county.

A British Government source said that that it was “not the right time to go forward” with the loan, because Sri Lanka is forcibly detaining nearly 300,000 mostly Tamil refugees in internment camps and spending a large proportion of its wealth on its military - even though the country’s bloody 26-year civil war ended in May.

The source said: “The current situation on the ground means that we do not believe that an IMF programme is appropriate, or could be delivered effectively.”

The United States, France and Germany were also thought to have serious misgivings about the loan, which is needed by Sri Lanka to stave off a looming balance of payments crisis and for the reconstruction of former war zones. The country’s finances have been battered by the global credit crisis and high military spending.

At this moment, Britain is in turmoil, both financial and political. It seems that Miliband's visit to Sri Lanka and his comments are still carrying some water. It is also understood that the Tamil Diaspora (LTTE Wing) is also pressurizing the British Government to stop the IMF Loan to Sri Lanka.

It is my opinion that the IMF loan will come through. And, when it so happens, the world acceptance of the British will tumble further. Little do the Brits realize that the days when it's former colonies bowed down to them are gone. Even a tiny nation like Sri Lanka has stood up to them.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the IMF managing director, said this week that the lender had agreed preliminary terms with the Sri Lankan Government after four months of talks. The $2.5 billion agreed is $600 million more than Sri Lanka originally asked for.

Today, the Sri Lankan government itself was confident it would receive the funds.

“We have no problem obtaining the loan, I believe,” Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, minister of enterprise development and investment promotion, said.

“There will be a successful conclusion at the meeting...Now is the time for (the IMF) to support us because now we have completely destroyed one of the worst terrorist outfits in the world and it is time to start the reconciling and healing process in our country.”

The anti Sri Lanka drive has also been spearheaded by part of the British media, with Channel 4 TV heading the list.

To discredit Sri Lanka and to further the cause of the remnants of the LTTE, Chanel 4 will go any distance.

Also, at this juncture, one must remember the China option. If the IMF loan does not go through, one can be sure that they will step in. This will further isolate the weaker western countries such as Great Britain amongst other countries of the world.

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sivakaran

at 12:00 on July 24th, 2009

Good for Britain for raising concerns over the situation in the camps.

A Human Rights Watch spokesman said: “The government continues to hold displaced persons in detention camps in violation of their rights to liberty and freedom of movement, limiting their ability to communicate and talk to others about what happened in the final stages of the war.

“It prohibits aid agencies from speaking out about poor conditions in the camps and expels critics. Persons suspected of having LTTE ties have been detained incommunicado, contrary to international law, and credible reports indicate that at least some have been mistreated.”

Also, please mark this as opinion as you have included your opinion regarding this news.

lalith

at 20:59 on July 24th, 2009

Oh! Thank you.

I have been doing this all the time. Once again, thanks for your input.

Congrats for being appointed an editor at NP.

Please check my latest post of few minutes ago.

I'm wondering how to deal with so many losers.

Take care my friend.

Uncle Sam (not verified)

at 03:04 on July 25th, 2009

"Congrats for being appointed an editor at NP"

LOL..!

sudharaka

at 21:32 on July 24th, 2009

String of losses for the pro [late] LTTE lobby or the "Silliband & Co."

May I ask what those who whine non-stop over the plight of the IDP's did to prevent the situation coming to this, in the first place? Moreover, what is the effort they put to make their life better and ensure speedy resettlement, besides shouting on the roof tops at the top of their lungs GENOCIDE™ and other stuff?

IMHO it is hard for them to digest the fact that the GOSL is doing a commendable job (according to UNHCR) and therefore being plain hypocrits.

Hiranya Malwatta

at 04:59 on July 27th, 2009

Thanks for the post Lalith !

"This will further isolate the weaker western countries such as Great Britain amongst other countries of the world. "

and thank you for not mincing your words.

JamalDavid (not verified)

at 22:05 on July 27th, 2009

Britain says "We expect the government of Sri Lanka's commitment to reduce defence spending whilst safeguarding spending on humanitarian assistance and [the resettlement of displaced people] to be implemented in full".
What bold words, from a weak powerless nation at the corner of Europe. You do not have a right to expect anything from Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's commitments in regards to its military spending and the settlement of displaced people has been made to Sri Lankans, not the bloody British foreign office. It's time you gave up your delusions of being a world power. We will hold our government to its commitments as we see fit, and the interest of a pissant bankrupt country like Britain in our internal affairs is completely unwelcome.
We should kick out all British aidies and journos from Sri Lanka. We hope those Muslims bomb your country because Sri Lankans would celebrate it with immense joy.
In case you forgot what our Defence Secretary told your Foreign Minister, let me repeat it - F#$K OFF!!!

howard freedom (not verified)

at 19:15 on August 10th, 2009

Another way to help stop the genocide of the Tamil refugees in northern sri lanka by the goverment is to organize a worldwide boycott of all Sri Lankan texitile products to the western countries=USA and western Europe---thPLEASE HELP STOP THE GENOCIDE ON THE TAMIL PEOPLE--CONTACT HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS WESTERN GOVERMENTS--AND URGE THIS BOYCOTT----CALL WRITE FAX THE SRI LANKA GOVERMENT AND TELL THEM SRI LANKAN TEXTILES WILL NOT BE BOUGHT AND WESTERN GOVERMENTS NEED TO BE PRESURED TO URGE SRI LANKA TO GIVE FREEDOM TO THE TAMIL PEOPLE THEY ARE HOLDING AS PRISONERS STARVING THEM WITH NO MEDICAL OR FOOD AID----14 THOUSAND TAMIL PEOPLE IN TEH CAMPS ARE DYING EACH WEEK---PLEASE ACT NOW