The International Monetary Fund (IMF) team that visited Sri Lanka to study the impact of Cyclone Ditwah and hold discussions with authorities has now concluded its mission.
The delegation, which arrived on January 22, met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Deputy Minister of Labour, Finance and Planning Anil Jayantha Fernando, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe, Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma, Senior Presidential Economic Advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa, and other senior officials from the government and Central Bank.
They also engaged with state institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations, and various stakeholders to assess the economic and social impacts of the cyclone.
Commenting on the visit, which concluded today, Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, Evan Papageorgiou, noted that discussions covered damage to infrastructure and livelihoods, fiscal responses to natural disasters, monetary policy, and financial system stability.
The team exchanged information on future policy goals, financing needs, and IMF support available under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Sri Lanka’s recovery and reconstruction.
Papageorgiou further highlighted the government’s commitment to safeguarding progress in debt and financial stability, strengthening public investment management, reprioritizing projects, and reinforcing social safety nets.
An IMF team is expected to return soon to resume policy discussions for the fifth review of Sri Lanka’s Extended Fund Facility program.
The IMF further reaffirmed its readiness to support Sri Lanka in safeguarding macroeconomic stability, building resilience, and promoting sustainable growth. (Newswire)