Parliament Speaker former President Mohamed Nasheed has met Sri Lanka’s opposition leader Sajith Premadasa.
Following a meeting between the two, Nasheed tweeted that Premadasa’s understanding of the situation was ‘precise and absolute’. He also noted that Premadasa was the ‘most honorable leader of the opposition’ and commended the role the opposition is playing as a loyal and constructive opposition.
Nasheed previously held a meeting with Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Wickremesinghe tasked the Speaker to coordinate relief efforts for the country internationally. This move came after the country defaulted on its debts for the first time in its history. The governor of Sri Lanka's central bank said the country was now in a "pre-emptive default".
The decision came after discussions between the Prime Minister and the Speaker in Colombo on Thursday. Speaker Nasheed, the Prime Minister’s Office reported, had generously offered to assist Sri Lanka in securing relief from foreign nations.
This is the first time Nasheed had tackled the debt of any country – including his own. During his presidency, Nasheed, after multiple travels abroad would boast of securing millions. However, those millions are yet to be seen.