IMF Chief Reviews Sri Lanka Reform Progress

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met Kristalina Georgieva during her three-day visit to Sri Lanka to review progress under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility program and discuss access to two pending tranches.

The government said IMF-backed stabilization measures enabled a stronger response to Cyclone Ditwah, which heavily impacted rural communities. Colombo is seeking to draw additional funds to offset reconstruction costs and ease balance-of-payments pressures.

Talks focused on fiscal reforms, state-owned enterprise restructuring, debt restructuring milestones, and targeted social protection for vulnerable households. Georgieva acknowledged Sri Lanka’s reform progress and emergency response efforts.

Officials indicated that continued adherence to IMF benchmarks will be key to securing further disbursements. A positive review could bolster foreign reserves and investor confidence as the country works to sustain economic recovery while managing disaster-related expenditures.