As a corporate citizen and member of the business community, the John Keells Group has been gravely concerned with the dire economic circumstances facing the country, which require immediate remedial measures, a media release from the Group stated.
Excerpts of the release
“While we note the positive developments in relation to the engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the commencement of the steps pertaining to the debt restructuring process, we reiterate the need for all parties to come together to ensure political and social stability in the country which, we believe, will be a precursor to achieving the desired outcomes to avoid an economic catastrophe.
“We call on all key parties to reach consensus, within the construct of the Constitution of the country and due process being followed, in respecting the will of the people.
The John Keells Group, as stated in our communique on April 4, respects the right to participate in peaceful social movements and continues to support the freedom of expression and the right to protest. The shining light through the dire circumstances we collectively face, is the prominence of democratic expressions, and calls for the representatives of the people to act with the highest standards of governance and integrity which has united Sri Lanka in a manner which makes us all hopeful and positive that we can, together, overcome these challenges.
“We are firmly of the belief that the resilience of the people of our country will shine through yet again and we ask that our people remain united as we all look to building a better future for our country. We fervently request that all political leaders act in a decisive and expeditious manner which respects the voice of the people to ensure we have the stability required to achieve the economic outcomes needed at this crucial juncture,” the statement added.