The Central Bank has no intention to seek International Monetary Fund’s Special Drawing Rights (SDR) facility of US$750 million -$800 million which is offered as member country’s quota - unique instrument without much commitment, Governor of the Central Bank Prof. W.D Lakshman reiterated on Thursday.
Answering a question posed by the Business Times at the Virtual Media Conference on the monthly Monetary Policy Review, Prof. Lakshman noted that although SDR is a right of a member country Sri Lanka is not willing to continue with any IMF economic reform programmes.
However in a public statement last week on receivables of foreign finding, he categorically stated that “those foreign inflows are in addition to the receipt of around $800 million under the IMF SDR allocation expected in August 2021”.
Responding to a Business Times query via email on this government assurance, IMF Mission Chief Masahiro Nozaki reiterated on Friday July 2 that they have not received a formal request for IMF lending from Sri Lanka recently, but stood ready to discuss options if requested.
Clarifying this matter further on Thursday, Deputy Governor Mahinda Siriwardana said that the Central Bank has not made any formal request from the IMF for SDR facility of $ 750 million but there is an option for eligibility as a member country. (BS)
A Thai woman walking topless in Arugam Bay town has been arrested by the Police.
The UK government has unveiled a package of reforms to simplify imports from developing countries which allows for more garments manufactured in Sri Lanka to enter the UK tariff-free.
The Cabinet has approved a proposal for Sri Lankans overseas to apply for their passports through an online system via the Lankan diplomatic missions.
Ajith Gallage, the owner of a Bird Park in Nagarawawa, Hambantota, has been remanded over allegations of concealing illegally imported motorcycles, in a warehouse owned by him.
A passenger attempting to smuggle the largest quantity of gold of 35 kilo grams was arrested by the Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) today, a senior official said.
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