The International Monetary Fund has made clear that its immediate priority is to consider Sri Lanka’s request for emergency financing under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI).
An IMF spokesperson emphasized that Board deliberation on the RFI stands at the forefront of engagement with Colombo at this critical juncture.
Alongside this urgent support, the Fund confirmed that a team will visit Sri Lanka in early 2026 to resume discussions on the Fifth Review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
The IMF spokesperson noted that RFI assistance will complement the country’s existing access under the EFF programme.
“In light of the Sri Lankan authorities’ request for emergency financing, IMF Board consideration of the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) request is the priority at the current juncture,” the IMF spokesperson said on Sunday (07).
The spokesperson noted, “An IMF team will visit Sri Lanka in early 20206 to resume discussions for the completion of the Fifth Review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The support under the RFI is in addition to Sri Lanka’s EFF access.”
The IMF’s Executive Board was to take up Sri Lanka’s fifth review on December 15, and the country was to receive around USD 358 million upon completion.
However, Sri Lanka’s government has requested a USD 200 million RFI in the face of an unprecedented disaster caused by Cyclone Ditwah last week.
Sri Lanka has largely fulfilled most commitments it agreed to for the IMF’s USD 3 billion loan after its unprecedented economic crisis and sovereign debt default in 2022. (Newswire)