Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has heavily criticized the President, urging him to stop treating public life as a joke with phrases like “Aney Please” and to understand the ground reality. Speaking during an inspection tour of disaster-hit industries in Dompe, Premadasa addressed the President’s recent dismissal of his economic suggestions.

The verbal clash stems from a recent Parliamentary session where the President dismissively remarked “Aney Please don’t” in response to Premadasa’s challenge regarding the economy. During that session, the Opposition Leader had urged the government to amend the existing IMF agreement and postpone the 2028 debt repayment, stating that if the government was unable to negotiate these changes, the Opposition was prepared to hold discussions with the IMF directly.

Referencing this exchange, Premadasa insisted that his proposal was not a matter for ridicule but represented the true reality of the country. He emphasized that instead of making light of the situation, the government must immediately negotiate with the IMF, international financial institutions, and foreign nations to secure debt relief. He further argued that committing to foreign debt repayment by 2028 is unrealistic given the current devastation, a fact that must be clearly communicated to the global lender.

The Opposition Leader added that while the President limits himself to rhetoric, he is actively engaging with foreign nations to secure aid for the country. Premadasa made these remarks while inspecting the damages at the Anthony Farm factory in Dompe and visiting a health clinic at the Giridara Temple.