"Hindutva comes before MLA or any Ministerial post" new BJP Minister in Karnataka says
Minister Sunil Kumar was speaking in his constituency Karkala after becoming minister
Karkala: Newly inducted minister of CM Basavaraj Bommai’s cabinet and Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar on Friday arrived in his constituency first time after taking oath as the minister. He was welcomed by his supporters at the bus stop on Friday morning in Karkala.
Speaking after arriving in the constituency after taking oath as a minister, Sunil Kumar expressed his happiness and said it was an emotional moment for him to come to his constituency as a minister.
He also thanked the people of his constituency for electing him to the assembly for three terms. He said the senior party leaders and the CM has expressed confidence in him and that he was hopeful to be on their expectations as a minister.
He further added that there was no compromise when it came to Hindutva. He said Hindutva comes before MLA or any ministerial post. “In any case, I would not compromise with Hindutva,” he said.
On being asked which portfolio he was anticipating, Sunil Kumar added that it does not matter which portfolio he is given and that he will work with dedication in any portfolio he is allotted.
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IMF approves USD 206 million emergency funding for cyclone-hit Sri Lanka's recovery
Colombo (PTI): The IMF has approved an emergency funding of USD 206 million under its rapid finance instrument to help Sri Lanka “address the urgent needs arising from the catastrophic Cyclone Ditwah and preserve macroeconomic stability”.
The cyclone caused widespread destruction in the island nation and left over 643 people dead.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the disaster has created urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs, generating significant fiscal pressures and balance-of-payments needs.
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The emergency financial support provided by the IMF under the rapid finance instrument will help address these pressures, it said.
The IMF added that the cyclone devastation hit when the Fifth Review of Sri Lanka’s USD 2.9 billion bailout was nearing completion.
“Given the time needed to assess the economic impact of the cyclone and examine how an IMF-supported programme can best support Sri Lanka’s recovery and reconstruction efforts while preserving objectives and policy priorities, the Fifth Review has been deferred," it said.
"An IMF mission team will visit Sri Lanka in early 2026 to resume discussions,” it added.
The 48-month extended fund facility deal with the IMF in March 2023 carried hard reforms to Sri Lanka's welfare-based governance.
It was signed after Sri Lanka plunged into an unprecedented economic meltdown with its first-ever sovereign default.
Several hours before the IMF decision, the parliament here approved without a vote a supplementary estimate of LKR 500 billion, which the government said was required to restore the livelihoods of those affected by the disaster.
