{
  "id": 19900924,
  "title": "Kissing Kawanthissa worthier than embracing IMF Chief, says Sajith",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/kissing-kawanthissa-worthier-than-embracing-imf-chief-says-sajith",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-14T00:06:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/kissing-kawanthissa-worthier-than-embracing-imf-chief-says-sajith/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sajith Premadasa, the Opposition Leader, made a remark in Parliament, stating that kissing Kawanthissa, the deceased tusker, held more significance than kissing the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In his address, Premadasa criticized the Government's relationship with international financial institutions, including the IMF, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank, while raising concerns about the country's poverty levels. He cited a 2025 World Bank report, which estimated that 61.1% of Sri Lanka's population was living on less than US$8.30 a day. Premadasa questioned the Government's approach towards these institutions, expressing dissatisfaction with the way they were being \"kissed and hugged\". During the speech, he displayed a photograph of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya embracing the former IMF chief, remarking that this was acceptable as it was a common form of greeting. Regarding the criticism over his gesture of kissing Kawanthissa, Premadasa clarified that government members had not grasped the significance of the act and that showing affection towards the deceased tusker was more meaningful than similar gestures towards the IMF chief.",
  "summary": "Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday said that kissing Kawanthissa, the deceased tusker, was worthier than kissing the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Speaking in Parliament, Premadasa criticised the Government’s relationship with international financial institutions, including the IMF, World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB), while raising concerns over the country’s…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}