WIN has declined to participate in a proposed meeting between President Irfaan Ali and opposition members of the Economic Services and Foreign Relations Committees of Parliament, citing concerns over the process.
Ali said during a press briefing on Monday that he would meet with the committees to brief them on a number of matters of national interest.

In a statement, the Office of the Leader of the Opposition said the President's approach of engaging individual parliamentary committees, rather than the Leader of the Opposition, raised concerns about bypassing the constitutional office established to provide oversight and accountability to the Executive.

The office said the invitation to members of the Foreign Relations and Economic Services Committees was sent without an agenda or indication of the matters to be discussed. It said clarification was sought from the Speaker of the National Assembly, including a request for an agenda, but no meaningful response was received.
Under these circumstances, the office said WIN does not believe it is appropriate for its members to participate in the meeting.

The office said it respects the Office of the President, but that this does not require the Opposition to disregard the constitutional role of Parliament or the Office of the Leader of the Opposition.
It said WIN remains willing to engage with the Executive where such engagement is conducted with transparency and proper respect for democratic institutions.