IMF hopes to resume discussions with SL

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is still in contact with officials at technical levels within the Sri Lankan Government and hopes to be able to resume discussions with higher-level officials, an IMF Spokesman said yesterday, after Sri Lanka’s President announced his resignation. “We are closely monitoring the ongoing developments in Sri Lanka. We hope for a resolution of the current situation that would allow for our resumption of a dialogue on an IMF-supported programme,” IMF Spokesman Gerry Rice said at a scheduled press briefing.

Rice said the IMF still has technical counterparties in Sri Lanka’s Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance and hopes to be able to have high-level discussions with the authorities to begin discussions on a programme “as soon as possible.” – Agencies