President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said recent economic indicators clearly demonstrate that the Sri Lankan economy has now entered a path towards stability, and that the government’s objective is to use this stability as a strong foundation to take the country towards a transformative era.
The President also emphasised that the government’s objective was to use the economic gains achieved by the country to ease and improve the living standards of the people.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made these remarks while participating in a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (17) with a delegation led by International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Chief Evan Papageorgiou.
The delegation is in Sri Lanka for the seventh review of the country’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme and the 2026 Article IV Consultation, and is scheduled to remain in Colombo from September 10 to 23.
Speaking at the meeting, IMF Mission Chief Evan Papageorgiou noted that Sri Lanka had achieved significant economic progress under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He also commended the country’s progress in maintaining fiscal discipline during the recent period, including increasing government revenue and attracting foreign investment.
He further highlighted the importance of ensuring that the economic stability achieved so far is maintained when moving towards 2027 and beyond.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake further noted that the programme being implemented between the government and the IMF had provided an important foundation for Sri Lanka in achieving economic stability. He said this economic stability had also enabled the country to face the economic impacts of the recent major natural disaster, Cyclone Ditwah, as well as the consequences of the conflict in the Middle East.
The President further noted that Sri Lanka had been able to maintain an economic growth rate of 4.2% for the second quarter of this year, which he said was an important indication that the economy is recovering and growing.
Recalling the government’s performance in collecting tax revenue over the past two years, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reiterated that the government’s objective was to safeguard the economic stability achieved with the assistance of the IMF.
The IMF noted the achievements in implementing the social welfare benefit programme, an important deliverable under the IMF-supported programme.
The difficulties faced by the public due to increased energy costs arising from the conflict in the Middle East were also discussed.
The IMF delegation also included Mr Enrique Flores Curiel, Ms Dinar Prihardini, Ms Ursula Wiriadinata, Ms Ozlem Aydin, Mr Yorbol Yakhshilikov, Mr Klakow Akepanidtaworn, Ms Yan Chen, Ms Martha Woldemichael, Resident Representative, and Ms Manavee Abeyawickrama, Local Economist.
Representing Sri Lanka were Dr P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka; Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; Mr Duminda Hulangamuwa, Senior Economic Advisor to the President; Mr G.M.R.D. Aponsu, Senior Additional Secretary to the President (Finance and Economic Affairs)
