In a meeting held today in Colombo, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to the objectives of the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, while advocating for alternative measures aimed at easing the financial burden on the country’s population. The discussions involved high-level IMF officials, including Krishna Srinivasan, Director of the Asia Pacific Department, and Senior Mission Chief Dr. Peter Breuer.
President Dissanayake, accompanied by key officials such as Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and Treasury Secretary Mr. Mahinda Siriwardena, highlighted the government’s intention to explore solutions that could mitigate the impact of high VAT and income taxes on struggling citizens. He reaffirmed the government’s alignment with the IMF’s overarching goals but emphasized the importance of flexibility in achieving them.
The IMF delegation expressed appreciation for Sri Lanka’s continued commitment to the programme and agreed to consider the alternative approaches proposed by the government. Furthermore, the two parties discussed the initiation of the third review of the programme, which has experienced delays due to upcoming general elections. President Dissanayake assured the IMF that the government remains dedicated to advancing the programme without disruption.
Source: President’s Media Division (PMD)
