📈 Sri Lankan Economist Honored by IMF for Global Policy Impact

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has awarded Sri Lanka-based economist Talal Rafi for the "Most Popular Public Finance Article of 2025." The recognition highlights the global reach and policy relevance of his work within the IMF’s Public Financial Management (PFM) discourse. • Award Details Rafi’s article, titled _“What Measures Can Developing Countries Take to Curb Rising Debt Levels,”_ outperformed contributions from global policymakers, practitioners, and scholars to rank as the most-read piece on the IMF PFM Blog for 2025. • Core Economic Recommendations The award-winning research addresses the critical debt crisis facing developing nations, advocating for: Debt restructuring and assessment of sustainability. Increasing progressive taxation and broadening the tax base to reduce inequality. Enhancing government efficiency through digitalization and rationalizing the public sector. Strategizing for economic growth by improving the ease of doing business and trade liberalization. • Professional Profile Talal Rafi is a prominent figure in Sri Lanka’s economic landscape, currently serving as a Consultant to the European Commission and a Director at Ernst & Young Sri Lanka. His extensive background includes: Expert member of the World Economic Forum network. Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Poverty Analysis. Former board member of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute (foreign policy think tank). This recognition underscores the significance of Sri Lankan expertise in shaping global discourse on public finance and debt management during a period of high economic volatility for developing markets. _Data based on IMF PFM Blog annual rankings._