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Sri Lanka Economy Resilient but Risks Remain Tilted to Downside, IMF Says
The IMF said Sri Lanka’s economy expanded 4.2% in the second quarter as talks continue on policy steps for the next review.
On Wednesday, an International Monetary Fund team led by Evan Papageorgiou concluded a visit to Sri Lanka to discuss the Seventh Review of the Extended Fund Facility and the 2026 Article IV Consultation.
The IMF noted Sri Lanka's economy remains resilient despite successive shocks, though the nation faces downside risks from global trade policy, Middle East war uncertainty, and broader external pressures.
Economic activity expanded 4.2 percent in the second quarter of 2026, gross official reserves reached $6.9 billion by August, and headline inflation rose to 8 percent due to global oil price shocks.
To sustain stability, the IMF urged officials to broaden the tax base, rationalize incentives, and maintain energy cost-recovery pricing to minimize fiscal risks from state-owned enterprises.
"Shifting from stabilization to transformation requires sustained momentum on structural reforms to reduce poverty and lift living standards through strong and inclusive growth," the IMF said, as discussions toward staff-level agreement continue.