Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma stated that the approval of the fourth tranche of the IMF bailout package is a significant milestone, given the country’s economic situation.
“It’s an important outcome because it reinforces continuity and consistency in the path toward economic stability,” he told reporters in Colombo today (01).
On Friday, the IMF Executive Board completed the third review under Sri Lanka’s 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement, allowing the government to draw SDR 254 million (approximately US$334 million).
The deputy minister emphasized that, contrary to public belief, the government took several calculated and rational decisions to stabilize the economy.
“One of these was to remain within the IMF programme,” he said, adding that other key measures included facilitating debt restructuring, supporting the business ecosystem, ensuring market mechanisms continue, and intervening proportionately when necessary—particularly when existing systems failed to meet public expectations.
Suriyapperuma stressed that achieving macroeconomic stability remains a top priority for the government.
“With collective effort and support, the present government has been able to achieve significant stability within a short period,” he noted.
However, he cautioned, “That does not mean the journey is complete.”
“But we are at a critical point where we have achieved a lot in a short time—at times even exceeding the expectations of some stakeholders in this process,” he added.
He further clarified that, following the IMF evaluation, approximately US$334 million will be disbursed, bringing total disbursements to US$1.34 billion out of the nearly US$2.9 billion package set to be delivered over 48 months.
