Sri Lanka to hold crucial talks on formation of all-party govt. to combat economic meltdown

Main opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said their approach is to form a common all-party programme rather than an all-party government

The crucial talks on the possibility of forming an all-party government to tackle Sri Lanka’s economic meltdown will take place on August 5, 2022 evening, officials and political leaders in Colombo said.

Sri Lanka's newly-elected President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday invited the political parties to form an all-party government to overcome the current economic crisis as the Parliament reconvened after a seven-day adjournment.

The talks will take place on Friday evening, officials and political leaders said.

“We expect the president to take a new approach, the country will get destroyed if there is no collective action,” former president Maithripala Sirisena told reporters.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara, a veteran leader from the ruling coalition's 10-party breakaway group, said they would be looking at Wickremesinghe’s approach closely.

“Wickremesinghe has said that he was formulating a plan to find solutions to the economic and political impasse. He is going to seek our views, let’s hope the talks will be successful,” Nanayakkara said.

However, the main opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said their approach is to form a common all-party programme rather than an all-party government.