By: Isuru Parakrama
November 19, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government has reiterated its commitment to working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to steer Sri Lanka toward economic stability while honouring the public mandate.
This assurance was conveyed during a high-level meeting held yesterday (18) at the Presidential Secretariat between senior IMF representatives and key members of the government, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).
Led by Senior Mission Chief Peter Breuer, the IMF delegation congratulated President Dissanayake and his team on their decisive electoral victory, expressing optimism about the partnership’s potential to address Sri Lanka’s economic challenges.
The discussions revolved around advancing the IMF programme in alignment with the priorities of the newly-formed government.
President Dissanayake emphasised that the programme’s success depends on regaining public trust through transparent and effective governance.
Stressing the importance of balancing economic reforms with social welfare, he urged the IMF to adopt an approach that acknowledges the burdens faced by ordinary citizens.
Under his leadership, the President assured, social spending would be prioritised, with a particular focus on alleviating child poverty and malnutrition, as well as improving support systems for differently abled individuals.
Responding to concerns raised by the IMF delegation about the underutilisation of allocated funds for social programmes in the past, he pledged to take proactive measures to ensure efficient allocation and impactful use of resources.
The dialogue also centred on governance and anti-corruption efforts. President Dissanayake reaffirmed his government’s determination to tackle corruption comprehensively, describing it as a cornerstone of the people’s mandate.
He outlined plans to strengthen legislative and institutional frameworks to enhance transparency and accountability, signalling a zero-tolerance stance toward corrupt practices.
The meeting, which included Minister of Finance President Dissanayake, Minister of Labour Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando, and MP Harshana Sooriyapperuma, alongside officials from the Ministry of Finance, marked a constructive step in fostering cooperation with the IMF.
