The Office of the Leader of the Opposition released a statement today in response to an invitation for a meeting with the President to discuss national debt restructuring.

The statement signed by the Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition Thisath D.B. Wijayagunawardane PC to the Secretary of the President, outlines several reasons for the decision to decline the invitation including the concerns regarding transparency and consultation and the party's disagreement with debt restructuring approach.

The statement highlights the SJB's repeated requests for access to the Staff Level Agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) throughout the negotiation process. They criticized the government's refusal to share details and its unilateral handling of the negotiations.

The opposition strongly objects to the government's plan to place a disproportionate burden on the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF). They view this approach as a violation of social equity and unfair to those least able to bear the financial strain.

The statement also expresses disappointment at the lack of progress on restructuring debt held by primary bond holders and international sovereign bond holders.

While declining the meeting with the President, the opposition reiterated their willingness to engage with the IMF directly.

The statement emphasized their commitment to protecting the national interest, as demonstrated in past collaborations.