IMF focuses on current state of SL economy
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is focusing attention on the current status of the Sri Lankan economy and measures to keep the deficit under control.The new IMF Executive Director, Dr. Subir Gokarn told the Business Times during a visit to Colombo that his meetings with Sri Lankan ministers this week focused on the current state of the Sri Lankan economy and the threats and opportunities that it faces in the evolving global environment.
Replying to an e-mail query, he noted that his discussions with the two ministers of finance and special assignments were centered on opportunities that Sri Lanka faces in the evolving global environment.“Having taken office as Executive Director on December 1, I was keen to visit all members of the IMF as soon as possible and this included a visit to Sri Lanka in early January,” he added. He said currently he is observing economic activities in the Asian region and he selected Sri Lanka as the first stop of his observation tour.
Dr. Gokarn met Ministers Ravi Karunanayake and Dr. Sarath Amunugama this week and held discussions relating to the present economic situation in the country.Sri Lanka will be seeking an IMF standby facility for at least US$ 1 billion and a $ 500 million World Bank (WB) credit for budgetary support, a senior government official told the Business Times. Dr. Gokarn did not comment on this development.