Prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday (23) afternoon summoned AG Gamini Wijesinghe to Temple Trees and questioned him about the matter along with the finance minister and the finance secretary, reports say.

It was a closed door meeting between them, although the deputy AG and other top officials of the AG’s Department were also sent for.

The PM has asked the AG as to why his report has claimed the government has obtained credit in excess of the amount approved by parliament.

In response, the AG said his responsibility was to document the credit obtained correctly, a task he and his department have done to the letter.

When asked as if loans repaid this year have been included in the report, the AG said credit obtained has been mentioned, and unpaid loans were a different matter, noting that it was his responsibility to report the loans obtained.

Wickremesinghe further asked him as to whether his predecessors have done so, he replied that it was irrelevant to him whether they had done so or not.

Towards the end of the meeting, the finance minister requested the AG to think about the country and as to what should be told to the IMF.

He answered that he has correctly reported the information, and that it was not his responsibility to make explanations to the IMF.

Parliament has approved Rs. 1,511,138 million to be obtained as loans, but the AG’s report says the government has obtained Rs. 1,788,892 million.

The report is made available in the finance ministry website since May.

Ending the meeting, the PM noted there was something to be learned from the AG’s explanations.