Sri Lanka PM Harini Amarasuriya defends IMF programme

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has defended the Sri Lankan government’s decision to continue the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recovery programme, despite previous political opposition to the arrangement. In an interview with CNN, Amarasuriya explained that the agreement was already signed when her administration took office and that continuing the programme was necessary to reassure markets and establish stability following the country’s economic collapse.

The Prime Minister noted that while her movement had reservations about the deal previously, subsequent discussions with the IMF revealed common ground regarding fiscal discipline, governance, and anti-corruption measures. She attributed the country’s improving economic position to disciplined management and reduced waste, though she acknowledged the vulnerability of the recovery to external shocks.

Amarasuriya also committed to a policy of non-alignment and promised constitutional reforms aimed at addressing the underlying causes of the nation’s ethnic conflict.