However, the global lender still requires two things from Sri Lanka

By Sanath Nanayakkare

Julie Kozack, Director of IMF Communications, last week highlighted Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic policies, rapid inflation decline, and steady economic growth as commendable.

“Sri Lanka now anticipates finalizing debt restructuring with private and official creditors. Domestic debt operations are largely completed, paving the way for faster-than-expected economic recovery following the crisis”, she said.

“So, just stepping back and giving the lay of the land. On March 21st of this year, the IMF staff and the Sri Lankan authorities reached a staff-level agreement for the second review of the program and also concluded the and also finished the Article IV mission. Completion of the review by the Executive Board of the IMF requires two things. The first is implementation by the authorities of the agreed prior actions, and the second is the completion of the financing assurances review, and that would confirm multilateral partners’ financing contributions. And the financing review will also assess adequate progress with debt restructuring.”

“With respect to Sri Lanka’s economic performance, macroeconomic policies in Sri Lanka are starting to bear fruit. Commendable outcomes include a rapid decline in inflation, robust reserve accumulation, and initial signs of economic growth, while also preserving stability in the financial system. Overall, program performance has been strong. The next steps with respect to the debt restructuring are to conclude negotiations with external private creditors and to implement the agreements in principle with Sri Lanka’s official creditors. The domestic debt operations are largely completed. The initial debt restructuring negotiations with external bondholders ended in mid-April without an agreement, and discussions are continuing with a view to reaching agreement in principle. And on the official creditor side, these agreements in principle still need to be finalized,” she said.