Business

IMF Staff Level Agreements are not a matter any administration can afford to take lightly

Published

2 years ago

2024/08/26

Thilina Walpola

Professor Priyanga Dunusinghe

What can Sri Lanka do if IMF leaves the negotiating table?

Professor Priyanga Dunusinghe at University of Colombo queries

By Sanath Nanayakkare

We cannot expect that IMF will always be there to support Sri Lanka if the country begins tinkering with the set of economic policies and reforms it needs to implement in exchange for financial assistance from the IMF, Priyanga Dunusinghe, a Professor in Economics in the Department of Economics at the University of Colombo said on 24th August 2024.

He said so in response to a question posed at him during ‘Paththaren Eha’ discussion televised live on Independent Television Network (ITN).

“The Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme depends on Sri Lanka’s economic situation and policy priorities, as well as the IMF’s technical assessment of the country’s financial and economic outlook. IMF Staff Level Agreements are very technical, so Sri Lankan authorities should not attempt to deviate from them for political reasons. What can Sri Lanka do if the IMF leaves the negotiating table”, he queried.

Further speaking he said:

“The IMF has made a careful analysis of Sri Lanka’s debt stock and has shown the country the way to manage its debt repayment under a ‘debt sustainability programme’. The macroeconomic targets were given to Sri Lanka by the IMF mainly based on this programme. You would have heard from time to time that IMF and Sri Lankan authorities came to Staff Level Agreements. Such an agreement is arrived at after lengthy debates and discussions between the two sides on technical points, fiscal situation and hard data. You asked me whether this agreement can be amended.

Yes, a new government coming to power can consider amendments to the agreement. But there arises the issue whether such amendments can be made without affecting the fiscal targets in the existing framework. For example, if tax revenue as a percentage of GDP is to be increased to 15.3% by 2027, it has got to be achieved, otherwise we won’t be able to continue working with the IMF programme. Alternate ways can be discussed as to how this tax share can be mobilized. But if someone suggests we abolish VAT and we collect taxes from tax evaders instead, the IMF knows that it can’t be done within the stipulated time frame. The IMF programme is crafted by experts based on data and analyses and timelines. If someone goes to the IMF and says the agreement needs to be amended, then the data which has already been used in the current programme would have to be proven erroneous.

Furthermore, the fact that we are entering into re-negotiations will mean that our credibility will be at stake. If that happens not only the IMF, the World Bank, the ADB, the bilateral and multilateral creditors also will begin to lose faith in us. Secondly, are there any countries in the world that amended IMF agreements and came out of their economic troubles? Greece attempted to do this, but it didn’t work. It is now said Greece will not be able to restore its pre-crisis level which prevailed in 2008, until 2031. This is the outcome of tinkering with the IMF programme. This is true for Argentina, Ecuador and other similar countries. So, attention must be paid to these international experiences when trying to make amendments to the IMF programme”

“Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, a key player for over three decades in Indian economic reforms visited Sri Lanka some time back. When asked about amending the IMF agreement he said,” Trying to amend the agreement is imprudent. What you need to do is; show the IMF that you are acting upon achieving the given targets as quickly as possible because going into re-negotiations will reflect badly on staff level agreements and would have adverse consequences on Sri Lanka. Dr. Ahluwalia even said that such a move could draw flak from IMF officials.”

Professor Dunsinghe said that the IMF reform programme has been painful to the people, but it is now starting to bear fruit and urged Sri Lankans to move ahead on the difficult path to benefit from it.

“Within 2 years, Sri Lanka was able to come out of the crisis. Locally, this feat is not acknowledged due to political differences. But internationally, it is recognized as an unprecedented achievement. Sri Lankan people will have to wait until the plant becomes a tree and the tree gives its yield. We are an impatient nation that always rushed to eating the leaves before the fruits were borne. So, it will be useful to keep in mind that if we rush to eat the leaves again, we will miss the fruits.”

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Business

ADB approves $100 million loan to boost skills development and jobs for youth in Sri Lanka

Published

12 hours ago

2026/10/2

Thilina Walpola

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $100 million results-based loan to help Sri Lanka transform its technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system, equip more young people with industry-relevant skills, and strengthen the country’s competitiveness and inclusive growth.

The Skills Development System Transformation Program will support the Government of Sri Lanka’s efforts in improving the quality and relevance of skills training, strengthening links between training providers and industries, and expanding employment opportunities for youth. The program will increase women’s employment opportunities in nontraditional jobs in fields including automotive technology, engineering, information and communications technology, construction, and renewable energy.

“A skilled workforce is essential to Sri Lanka’s long-term economic transformation and competitiveness,” said ADB Country Director for Sri Lanka Shannon Cowlin. “This program will help create stronger pathways from education to employment by making training more responsive to industry needs, expanding opportunities for young people and women, and ensuring that graduates have the skills required by a modern and evolving economy.”

Though Sri Lanka’s economy is recovering, it faces skills shortages in priority sectors, high youth unemployment, and low female labor force participation. Many employers report difficulty finding workers with the skills needed in a changing economy.

Aligned with the Government of Sri Lanka’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training Sector Strategic Framework 2026–2035, the nationwide program will be implemented from 2027 to 2031 and is expected to directly benefit more than 100,000 young people through improved access to quality, employment-oriented training.

Business

USD 40.84m pipeline to secure aviation fuel supplies to BIA

Published

12 hours ago

2026/10/2

Thilina Walpola

By Ifham Nizam

The government has cleared a USD 40.84 million and Rs. 8,548.75 million contract to build a dedicated aviation fuel pipeline from Muthurajawela to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), alongside a massive new fuel storage facility with a capacity of 92,000 cubic metres.

Energy Minister Anura Karunatilaka said the project represented a major investment in strengthening the infrastructure underpinning Sri Lanka’s aviation fuel supply and ensuring more reliable fuel availability at the country’s main international airport.

‘This project will provide the infrastructure required to strengthen the reliability and continuity of aviation fuel supplies to Bandaranaike International Airport, Karunatilaka said.

The contract has been awarded to China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company Limited, following an international competitive procurement process in which three bids were received.

The project will see a new aviation fuel storage tank complex constructed at Muthurajawela, together with the associated infrastructure required for handling and transferring aviation fuel.

Business

CSE activity up, turnover weak at Rs. 1.4 billion

Published

12 hours ago

2026/10/2

Thilina Walpola

By Hiran H Senewiratne

Trading activity on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) gathered pace yesterday as global fuel prices began to show signs of easing, according to market analysts.In this context, both indices moved upwards. All Share Price Index up by 67.97 points while S and P SL20 up by 8.30 points.

Turnover stood at Rs 1.4 billion with seven crossings. Those crossings were reported in Sampath Bank 1.7 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 238 million and its share price traded at Rs 140, Access Engineering two million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 159 million and its share price traded at Rs 79.50, LOLC one million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 129 million and its share price traded at Rs 129, HNB 100,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 38.4 million and its share price traded at Rs 384, JKH 1.9 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 35 million and its share price traded at Rs 18.60, Hayleys 100,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 22.50 million and its share price traded at Rs 225 and Richard Pieris 847,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 22 million and its share price traded at Rs 25.50.

In the retail market top seven companies that have mainly contributed to the turnover were Sampath Bank Rs 114 million (813,000 shares traded), JKH Rs 100 million (5.3 million shares traded) LB Finance Rs 49 million (325,000 shares traded), HNB Finance Rs 30 million (27 million shares traded), HNB Rs 27 million (70000 shares traded), NTB Rs 25 million (82000 shares traded ) and Lanka IOC Rs 21 million (666,000 shares traded). During the day 65 million shares volumes changed hands in 10433 transactions.

The Banking and manufacturing sector counters performed well. In the banking sector Sampath Bank let the market while manufacturing sector especially JKH also significantly performed well. With the fuel revision Land IOC also a significant stock at the floor.

Meanwhile, First Capital Treasuries said that Ramesh Schaffter resigned as a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director with effect from October 1, to facilitate the restructuring of the company’s board.

Yesterday the Central Bank announced the US Dollar rate as against rupee. The rupee was quoted flat at Rs 330.65/80 to the US dollar in the spot market , while bond yields dropped, dealers said.