## IMF Chief to Visit Colombo: Solidifying Post-Disaster Support 📈

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva will visit Sri Lanka next month to review progress under the US$ 2.9 Bn Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and express solidarity following the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah. ### Key Visit Objectives • Program Review: Assessment of the "success of the program" following the completion of the 5th review (deferred to early 2026 due to the disaster). • Disaster Solidarity: Reaffirming support after a 20% land area inundation that caused an estimated US$ 6-7 Bn in recovery needs. • Governance Focus: Acknowledging strong public appreciation for the government's governance reforms and anti-corruption efforts. ### Economic Context & Performance • Growth Rebound: GDP growth reached 5.0% in 2024 and 4.8% in H1 2025, though agriculture and tourism face short-term headwinds from recent flooding. • Fiscal Gains: Tax revenue more than doubled from 7.3% to 14.8% of GDP; inflation dropped from 70% to approximately 2-3%. • Emergency Funding: The IMF recently disbursed US$ 206 Mn via the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) to address urgent balance-of-payments needs. ### Outlook for 2026 • 6th Tranche: Discussions for the next US$ 330 Mn disbursement are set to resume in March 2026. • Infrastructure: Focus on restoring roads and rural livelihoods, supported by a LKR 500 Bn (approx. 1.4% of GDP) supplementary budget allocation. _Note: Data based on provisional IMF mission assessments and 2026 budget projections._