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IMF review agreement will help Sri Lanka fast-track debt restructuring: state minister
The staff level agreement on the first review of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme will enable multilateral agencies to disburse remaining installments and help fast-track debt restructuring, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said.
“This was much needed to strengthen economic stability, and after the IMF’s executive board approves [it], Sri Lanka will receive the second installment of 330 million US dollars [of the Extended Fund Facility],” Semasinghe tweeted on Friday morning after the IMF announced the agreement.
The state minister said the staff level agreement(SLA) will enable the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other multilateral financial institutions to disburse remaining installments.
“The SLA will enhance confidence in our economy and help fast-track the debt restructuring resolution with international partners,” he said.
The official also noted Sri Lanka is the first country in Asia that has undergone the IMF Governance Diagnostics exercise, the government having published a governance diagnostics report with the assistance of the international lender.
“We are committed to implementing key recommendations of the Governance Diagnostics Report which will help address corruption risks and strengthening accountability essential for rebuilding economic confidence and making growth more robust,” said Semasinghe.
His colleague State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyamabalapitiya also told reporters Friday morning that consequent to the staff level agreement, Sri Lanka will be able to work other creditors such as India, Japan and the Paris Club based on the agreement.
“A report on this will be given to the IMF executive board. After the board has approved it, we can reach an agreement on the release of the second tranche,” said Siyamabalapitiya. “We have overcome the hurdle of securing the Staff Level Agreement (SLA). In simple terms, this process is going well,” he added.
The IMF said it reached the SLA with the Sri Lankan authorities on economic policies to conclude the first review of the 48-month Extended Fund Facility-supported programme. The conclusion of the review would allow Sri Lanka to access a 330 million dollars worth second tranche of the 3 billion dollar deal in financing once the review is approved by IMF management.
In addition to the staff level deal, the completion of the review also requires progress on debt restructuring.
“Macroeconomic policy reforms are starting to bear fruit and the economy is showing tentative signs of stabilisation,” the IMF said in its statement after reaching the Staff Level Agreement.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
