Chief Government Whip Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the government will borrow funds from the International Monetary Fund only on conditions agreeable with the national interests.

Minister Gunawardena was answering a question raised by UNP Colombo District MP Ravi Karunanayake in Parliament yesterday.

Several MPs and Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal had left the country to meet IMF officials, Karunanayake said. He asked the Chief Government Whip to tell Parliament on what conditions the borrowing is being sought.

The government will obtain this loan only on terms and conditions agreeable to it. The whole world was affected by an economic recession so that the opposition must act responsibly, Gunawardena said.

"We’ll borrow only on conditions agreeable to us. Unlike the loans obtained by previous governments which agreed with every condition imposed and demanded by the lending body or country."

Asked to inform the House on the total loans outstanding as of today, Minister Gunawardena said the total amount was Rupees 1,327,419.79 million.