Sri Lanka yet to receive monetary foreign assistance for fight against COVID-19: Government

Sri Lanka is yet to receive any monetary foreign assistance in its fight against coronavirus pandemic despite signing an agreement with World Bank, a statement from finance ministry said on Monday.

"Sri Lanka h inked an agreement with World Bank for USD 127 million assistance for its operation against coronavirus fight but money remains yet to be received," statement said, quoting a senior bureaucrat of finance ministry, portfolio held by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sri Lanka has 718 confirmed cases of coronavirus with 7 deaths, local media reported.

Rajapaksa h convened a meeting of parliamentarians of last parliament to discuss COVID-19 situation in view of government's rejection of opposition request to reconvene dissolved parliament.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declined a request from opposition parties on May 1 to reconvene dissolved Parliament, saying y are trying to make a political gain at a time when COVID-19 pandemic has hit country.

Rajapaksa on March 2 dissolved Parliament, six months ahe of schedule, and called a snap election initially for April 25 which later was changed to June 20.

However, new date was also left in balance on Saturday as a special meeting of political parties to firm up date ended inconclusive.

opposition claims that public expenditure was legally permitted only until April 30 and Parliament must be reconvened to regularise use of money from consolidated fund.

On Monday, main Tamil party Tamil National Alliance was only opposition political outfit to take part in new meeting with Rajapaksa.

TNA said y urged Rajapaksa to reconvene Parliament to deal with constitutional and legal issues that h surfaced.

All major parties or than TNA h boycotted Rajapaksa’s meeting due to President Rajapaksa's refusal to reconvene parliament based on a joint request which came from 7 opposition party leers. PTI CORR RUP RUP