The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has appointed Evan Papageorgiou as the new mission chief for Sri Lanka, succeeding Peter Breuer, who completed his term after playing a key role in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.

Breuer served as IMF mission chief at a critical time when Sri Lanka was facing its worst economic crisis in decades. He led negotiations on the $3 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program approved in March 2023 and oversaw the first three reviews of the program. His leadership was instrumental in advancing discussions on debt restructuring and macroeconomic reforms aimed at restoring stability and growth.

Evan Papageorgiou, who assumes this role, is Deputy Chief of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department. He brings extensive experience in economic policy and IMF operations in the region. Papageorgiou will now lead the Fund’s ongoing engagement with Sri Lanka as it continues to implement reforms under the EFF program.