International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday on a landmark visit that combines urgent disaster assessment with a high-level economic mission.
She was received at Bandaranaike International Airport by Labour Minister and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando and other officials.
During her visit, Georgieva is scheduled to tour cyclone-affected areas in Gampola and hold discussions in Colombo with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe, along with other key representatives. The talks will focus on how the IMF can support Sri Lanka’s recovery efforts and strengthen its economic resilience.
In a video message shared shortly after her arrival, Georgieva said she immediately felt the warmth and generosity Sri Lanka is known for. Referring to communities recovering from the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, she noted that the IMF has stood by Sri Lanka since the disaster and will continue to do so. Citing a local saying about the sun shining after the heaviest monsoon, she expressed her hope for a brighter future for the Sri Lankan people.
In an interview ahead of the visit, Georgieva highlighted the progress achieved under the IMF-supported programme since 2023. She noted that the economy recorded 5% growth in 2024 and an estimated 5% growth in the first nine months of 2025. Inflation has stabilised near 2%, foreign reserves have been rebuilt, and tax revenues have exceeded expectations.
She also praised key reforms, including the new Central Bank Act and Sri Lanka’s Governance Diagnostic Assessment, describing them as essential for restoring debt sustainability and unlocking further international support.
“While it is too soon to declare mission accomplished, Sri Lanka is definitely on the path to success,” Georgieva said, adding that continued commitment to reforms would make the economic turnaround irreversible, with the IMF remaining a supportive partner in the journey ahead.
