Sri Lanka meets with US and IMF heads as talks over bailout continue

by Thusiyan
Apr 22, 2022

Sri Lanka’s finance ministry confirmed that it had met with officials from the US State Department, USAID and senior International Monetary Fund (IMF) figures, with talks continuing over an emergency bailout loan for Colombo as anti-government protests rumble on.

Sri Lankan minister of Finance Ali Sabry alongside Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made requests for emergency financial assistance in an effort to combat Sri Lanka’s debt crisis. However the IMF has reportedly made clear that any bailout deal would require "adequate assurances" that the country's debt could be put on a sustainable path.

Sabry met with the managing director of the IMF Kristalina Georgieva at the IMF headquarters in Washington DC early this week. He also met with the US Assistant Secretary

Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu, Chief of the Economic Unit John MC Daniel along with the USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Anjali Kaur, and USAID International Cooperation Specialist Sanjay R Iyer.

The meetings come amidst a deepening economic crisis that has destabilized the island. Sri Lanka is currently seeking up to US$4bn in assistance in order to pay creditors and import basic goods.

A press release from the Ministry of Finance states that Sabry “has made a request for a rapid financing instrument (RFI) with the IMF.” An RFI is an emergency loan with few conditions typically granted to a nation that has urgent financing needs.

In addition to an RFI, Sabry has also requested to expedite a request for an extended fund facility (EFF). Whilst allowing for longer repayment periods, an EFF also requires that the borrower agrees to revenue and deficit targets outlined by the creditor. Essentially, an EFF would necessitate structural reforms.

Former World Bank economist Shanta Devarajan advised that it is essential to protect the poor whilst implementing debt restructuring programs that will result in cuts to welfare, stating “if you want to introduce austerity in the middle of that situation, you have to manage it very carefully”.

The statement put out by the Ministry of Finance also highlights that Sitharaman has assured Sabry of “India’s commitment to strengthen the development of the economy in Sri Lanka and building stronger bonds between the two nations as they move forward together.” In addition, to support during IMF deliberations, Sri Lanka has also requested a US$1.5bn line of credit from India.

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Tamil asylum seekers in Australia mark 100 days of continuous protests for permanent visas

Over 200 refugees and supporters marked a significant milestone by marching 10 kilometers from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office to the Immigration Minister’s office this week, commemorating 100 days of continuous protest.

This demonstration, which culminated in a rally and speeches in Punchbowl, highlighted the plight of refugees denied permanent visas for over 12 years. Speakers at the event shed light on the profound impact of the current system, including barriers to higher education, employment, and access to essential services.

The protest has now entered its 100th day, with Tamil asylum seekers and their supporters continuing their relentless demand for permanent protection. For 38 days, they camped outside Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke’s office in Sydney, calling on the government to end the visa limbo that has left many without basic rights and stability. Tamil asylum seekers have been in Australia for over a decade, living on short-term visas that must be renewed regularly. Without permanent residency, they are excluded from Medicare—Australia’s universal health insurance scheme—and are denied the right to work, study, travel, or access essential services. Many are also required to report to visa offices weekly.

The crisis is compounded by the controversial 'Fast Track' system introduced in 2014 by the Abbott government. According to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, this system has resulted in the rejection of around 8,500 asylum seekers' cases. It specifically targets individuals who sought asylum by sea and arrived in Australia between August 13, 2012, and December 31, 2013. Tamil asylum seekers, stuck in visa limbo for years, have launched protests nationwide, with 24-hour encampments in Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane.

Amaran - Problematic propaganda

amaran

The genre of war epic makes its grand re-entry to Tamil cinema with director Rajkumar Periasamy’s sophomore feature film, ‘Amaran.’ As is often the case with this genre, one cannot help but feel the events of the ‘true story’ onscreen have been heavily modified for easy consumption.

 

 

 

The patriotic military films of Tamil cinema had taken a back seat for a while. The subject matter is now seldom a prominent theme of a film, instead lurking in the shadows peeking through such as via the heroes in the works of Nelson Dilipkumar. The genre of war epic makes its grand re-entry to Tamil cinema with director Rajkumar Periasamy’s sophomore feature film, ‘Amaran.’ As is often the case with this genre, one cannot help but feel the events of the ‘true story’ onscreen have been heavily modified for easy consumption.

The film follows the tale of Major Mukund Varadarajan (Sivakarthikeyan) and his partner Indhu Rebecca Varghese (Sai Pallavi), who meet at college and soon become lovers. Indhu grapples with her lover’s life ambition of becoming a soldier for the Indian army, admiring his courage and more than willing to become his doting wife at home. We then watch as Mukund is stationed in Kashmir and follow along with his various missions in the volatile area. The film’s depiction of the Indian army is one solely made up of heroes rescuing civilians and looking out for the public’s interests. It is not necessary to delve too much into why this is an oversimplified and problematic portrayal.

The central performances by Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi carry the almost three hour film adequately. Despite moments where Sivakarthikeyan lacks the intensity to land highly emotional scenes, the pair deftly share the screen between them, with Pallavi picking up any slack. Another notable performance comes from Geetha Kailasam, a character actor who has featured in many films recently in the role of ‘the mother.’ ‘Amaran’ gives her another opportunity to showcase her own humorous brand of motherhood.

Technically, the film runs smoothly. The film is decently shot and edited. Other than a few overly melodramatic moments, the screenplay is solid, albeit a little superficial. GV Prakash Kumar continues his trend of matching the quality of the film with the quality of his music. The track ‘Hey Minnale’ is an earworm, but the rest of the score and soundtrack does not shine through.

Overall, ‘Amaran’ is a straightforward piece of propaganda. A shot in ‘Amaran’ depicts a soldier of the Indian army blocking a closing door with his rifle. On the other side of the door is a Kashmiri child. To appease the child, the soldier sneaks a chocolate bar through the gap in the doorway. The reverse of this tactic is what director Rajkumar Periasamy employs to hook his audience in: the sweetness of the Penelope-Odysseus relationship between Mukund and Indhu hides the intrusion of the weapon of jingoist ideology. 

Krishna's rating: 2.5 stars

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Official trailer for film below.

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