COLOMBO - Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on Thursday that the government hopes to sign a new staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by Nov 23.

Delivering the new government's policy statement at the commencement of the 10th parliament, Dissanayake said breaking away from the IMF agreement is not an option for the country.

The president said that there was a delay in the third review, initially scheduled for September, owing to the recent elections.

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He said that soon after the Nov 14 parliamentary election, the IMF resumed discussions with the government and they are hopeful of finalizing the staff-level agreement within this week.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's 10th parliament, which held its first sitting on Thursday morning, appointed member of parliament representing the National People's Power Asoka Sapumal Ranwala as the new parliament speaker.

He was nominated by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and seconded by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and was appointed unanimously.

NPP parliamentarians Rizvie Salih and Hemali Weerasekara were elected as the new deputy speaker of parliament and deputy chairperson of committees, respectively.

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During the session, the speaker announced that President Dissanayke has officially recognized Sajith Premadasa, member of parliament from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) as the leader of the opposition.

Dissanayke's NPP won 159 seats out of the 225 seats in the parliament in the Nov 14 parliamentary election.