Sri Lanka's joint opposition criticised the government's 2018 budget which was detailed on Friday, stating that it "panders" to International Monetary Fund.
The MP Bandula Gunawardene said the "budget was sure to fail as in it the government was trying to increase foreign investments by relaxing laws for foreigners and imposing excessive taxes on the people."
"[The] budget panders to the IMF's whims and fancies", the Daily Mirror quoted the Joint Opposition as saying.
“This is a more liberal budget which would not offer any benefits to the people,” Mr Gunawardene said.
“According to the agreement it is the IMF which decides the expenditure of the country for the next three years. The finance minister cannot present a budget beyond the policy framework given by the IMF,” he added.
