News
IMF review agreement will help Sri Lanka fast-track debt restructuring: state minister
The staff level agreement on the first review of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme will enable multilateral agencies to disburse remaining installments and help fast-track debt restructuring, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said.
“This was much needed to strengthen economic stability, and after the IMF’s executive board approves [it], Sri Lanka will receive the second installment of 330 million US dollars [of the Extended Fund Facility],” Semasinghe tweeted on Friday morning after the IMF announced the agreement.
The state minister said the staff level agreement(SLA) will enable the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other multilateral financial institutions to disburse remaining installments.
“The SLA will enhance confidence in our economy and help fast-track the debt restructuring resolution with international partners,” he said.
The official also noted Sri Lanka is the first country in Asia that has undergone the IMF Governance Diagnostics exercise, the government having published a governance diagnostics report with the assistance of the international lender.
“We are committed to implementing key recommendations of the Governance Diagnostics Report which will help address corruption risks and strengthening accountability essential for rebuilding economic confidence and making growth more robust,” said Semasinghe.
His colleague State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyamabalapitiya also told reporters Friday morning that consequent to the staff level agreement, Sri Lanka will be able to work other creditors such as India, Japan and the Paris Club based on the agreement.
“A report on this will be given to the IMF executive board. After the board has approved it, we can reach an agreement on the release of the second tranche,” said Siyamabalapitiya. “We have overcome the hurdle of securing the Staff Level Agreement (SLA). In simple terms, this process is going well,” he added.
The IMF said it reached the SLA with the Sri Lankan authorities on economic policies to conclude the first review of the 48-month Extended Fund Facility-supported programme. The conclusion of the review would allow Sri Lanka to access a 330 million dollars worth second tranche of the 3 billion dollar deal in financing once the review is approved by IMF management.
In addition to the staff level deal, the completion of the review also requires progress on debt restructuring.
“Macroeconomic policy reforms are starting to bear fruit and the economy is showing tentative signs of stabilisation,” the IMF said in its statement after reaching the Staff Level Agreement.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the project to provide technological solutions to prevent wild elephants from being hit by trains was signed yesterday (01) afternoon at the President’s Media Centre, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Coordinated through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, the project is being implemented as a public-private partnership, with the Railway Department, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Conservation Department working together, with full financial support from People’s Bank.
The system consists of three-beam detection, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, automatic temperature sensors and a tamper alarm system to detect animals weighing more than 20 kilogrammes and unauthorised interference. Signal lights (red/yellow/green) installed on either side of the railway tracks, together with a special screen installed inside the locomotive cab, will alert the driver in advance to the exact location of an elephant.
A demonstration test of the system was successfully conducted at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage premises in the presence of the relevant officials, following which a report on the system was prepared.
The system will be implemented as a pilot project from next month at 13 locations where wild elephant accidents are frequent. A newly developed website is also scheduled to be launched to enable the progress of the project to be viewed live.
Additional General Manager of Railways P.D.S.B. Chandrasena, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Conservator General of Forests S.C. Palamakuumbura and Chairman of People’s Bank Chandana Guniyangoda signed the relevant MoU. Officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, including Presidential Additional Secretary (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, as well as senior officials from the Railway Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Conservation Department and People’s Bank, were also present.
[President’s Media Division]
The Commissioner General of Examinations has announced that the results of the 2026 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on the department’s official website: www.doenets.lk
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka on Monday, 31 August, to undertake an official visit to Bhutan to participate in the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit, scheduled to be held in Bhutan.
During her visit, Prime Minister Dr Amarasuriya participated in the opening plenary of the Summit on 1 September, where she delivered a keynote address under the theme “Rising to the Moment: Igniting Consciousness to Address the Polycrisis.”
The Prime Minister will also engage in discussions with international leaders and representatives on strengthening cooperation towards sustainable food systems, food security and resilient communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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Nilakshika fifty, Athapaththu seven-for rescue Sri Lanka against Indonesia
Winners to receive medals at Western Province School Games after many years
MoU signed for technology to prevent wild elephant-train collisions
Grade 5 scholarship exam results released
Prime Minister participates in Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Bhutan
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