IMF ready to support SL ; will resume programme discussions with govt. in mid February

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde has issued a special statement and said that the IMF is ready to support Sri Lanka and will be visting the country in mid-feburary to resume program discussions.

The statement was issued following the discussion held between Ms. Lagarde  and the Sri Lankan delegation comprising Central Bank Governor Indrajith Commaraswamy and Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

The statement further read that the Lankan delegation had "stressed Sri Lanka’s continued commitment to their economic reform agenda under the IMF-supported program".

In addition, the IMF Director had said that the implementation of a strong policy mix will put Sri Lanka on a sustainable path that would benefit its people.

Discussions at the meeting revolved around the challenging economic environment and the policy priorities for the country, the statement said.

The full statement reads as follows :
 

“I was pleased to meet with Minister Samaraweera and Governor Coomaraswamy this afternoon. We discussed the challenging economic environment and the policy priorities for the country. The authorities stressed Sri Lanka’s continued commitment to their economic reform agenda under the IMF-supported program.

“We agreed that a strong policy mix, with effective implementation of that agenda, is key to strengthening confidence, while putting Sri Lanka on a sustainable, high-quality growth path that would benefit its people.

“The IMF remains ready to support the Sri Lankan authorities in these endeavors and an IMF team is scheduled to visit Colombo in mid-February to resume program discussions.”