G20 considers quick relief to Lanka debt crisis

The G20 group, under India’s Presidency, has decided to provide relief to countries burdened with debt crisis, including Sri Lanka, said a report published by the Indian Express yesterday.The decision has been taken at the First G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) Meeting held in Bengaluru, February 24-25, 2023, and it is reported that the group has decided to focus on the areas where relief can be given to the respective countries.

The FMCBG meeting, concluded on Sunday, has focused on subjects ranging from global debt crisis, MDB reforms, climate finance, global approach on cryptos, digital public infrastructure, financial inclusion, financing cities of tomorrow, and taxation.

The Chair in a Summary and Outcome Document, following the conclusion of the meeting, recognizing the urgency to address debt vulnerabilities in low and middle-income countries, including Sri Lanka, said the group looks forward to a quick resolution for Sri Lanka’s situation.

“Further, we look forward to a swift resolution to Sri Lanka’s debt situation,” the G20 FMCBG said.

The group added that strengthening multilateral coordination by official bilateral and private creditors is needed to address the deteriorating debt situation and facilitate coordinated debt treatment for debt-distressed countries.

IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, making a statement yesteray at the first meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors urged the G20 Leadership to strengthen the debt architecture and improve the speed and effectiveness of debt resolution in light of rising debt vulnerabilities in many countries.

She said more predictable, timely, and orderly processes are needed both for countries under the Common Framework (CF) for debt resolution and for those not covered by it, including Sri Lanka and Suriname.

On the sidelines, the International Monetary Fund held a meeting on Saturday with the World Bank, China, India, Saudi Arabia and the G7 on restructuring debt for distressed economies.

However, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has noted that there were disagreements among members, according to a Reuters report.

While pressure has been building on China, the world’s largest bilateral creditor, and other nations to take a large haircut in loans given to struggling developing nations, China has reiterated that the World Bank and other multilateral development banks participate in debt relief by taking haircuts alongside bilateral creditors.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has also said before the debt meeting that she would press all bilateral creditors, including China, to participate in meaningful discussions, adding that debt treatment for Zambia and financing assurances for Sri Lanka were “most urgent”.

Sri Lanka owed Chinese lenders $7.4 billion — or nearly a fifth of public external debt — by the end of 2022, Reuters reported.President Ranil Wickremesinghe recently said the prospects for relieving the debt burden of low-income countries, such as Sri Lanka, will become clearer at the G20 FMCBG meeting, concluded today.

“By the end of this week, we will get to hear the outcome of these talks. Then we will know with greater clarity as to how they intend to cooperate on debt relief for Sri Lanka, and how we should go forward,” he said.