Anura Kumara Dissanayake has assured the IMF that the government’s temporary relief measures introduced in response to the Middle East conflict and Cyclone Ditwah will be capped at Rs. 100 billion and phased out by the end of September 2026.
In a letter to Kristalina Georgieva, the President said any additional support through the Aswesuma welfare programme would be considered only if Sri Lanka remains on track to meet its fiscal targets.
The commitment was made as the IMF completed the Fifth and Sixth Reviews of Sri Lanka’s Extended Fund Facility programme, unlocking an immediate disbursement of approximately $695 million and bringing total IMF support under the programme to around $2.4 billion.
President Dissanayake said the country’s reform programme has helped restore economic stability, while the IMF noted that despite recent progress, challenges from Cyclone Ditwah and the Middle East conflict are expected to slow economic growth and increase inflationary pressures.
