Former UNP Deputy Leader and MP Ravi Karunanayake has questioned the government over its plans for Sri Lanka’s economy after the conclusion of the current International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.
Raising the issue in Parliament, Karunanayake sought an explanation on the outcomes of the IMF-supported programme and the government’s long-term economic strategy beyond the existing agreement.
His remarks came after the Executive Board of the IMF approved the fifth and sixth reviews under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), paving the way for the release of a further loan tranche of approximately US$695 million.
The MP pointed out that the current IMF agreement is due to expire in about seven months and asked whether the government has conducted a comprehensive assessment of the economic, social, and financial outcomes of the IMF-EFF programme introduced in 2023.
Karunanayake urged the government to disclose the findings of such an assessment and explain how it intends to sustain economic recovery once the current IMF programme comes to an end.
