Envoys of 23 countries pledge support to President to obtain IMF assistance

Ambassadors from 23 countries on Thursday assured President Ranil Wickremesinghe their support to get International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance.They said this at the Ambassadors’ Forum on Debt Restructuring and IMF Programme held at the President’s Office.

Ambassadors from 23 countries, both members and non-members of the Paris Club participated at the Forum.The foreign envoys expressed their confidence that Sri Lanka would be able to get the economy back on track.

President Wickremesinghe said the government wants to overcome the economic challenge as soon as possible and that the country needs foreign assistance.Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana briefed them on the progress of the discussions held with the IMF and the current economic situation in Sri Lanka.

President Wickremesinghe said transparency and equal treatment would be ensured and maintained at all times during the debt restructuring process.Ministers of State Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Tharaka Balasuriya, Shehan Semasinghe, Senior Adviser to the President on National Security, Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aruni Wijewardane and government officials attended the event.