IMF’s Fifth Review of Sri Lanka Set for Fall 2025; Program Could See Revisions

COLOMBO (News 1st); The fifth review of Sri Lanka’s IMF-supported Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program is expected to take place in the fall of 2025, according to Julie Kozack, Director of the IMF Communications Department. In the context of international institutions like the IMF, “fall” refers to the season spanning September to November in the Northern Hemisphere.

She was responding to a question posed by News 1st's Zulfick Farzan during a press briefing on Thursday (24).

This upcoming review follows the completion of the fourth review on July 1st, which unlocked USD 350 million in financial assistance for Sri Lanka, bringing the total IMF support under the EFF arrangement to USD 1.74 billion.

Kozack praised Sri Lanka’s progress, stating: “Sri Lanka’s ambitious reform agenda continues to deliver commendable outcomes. Inflation remains low, revenue collection is improving, and international reserves continue to accumulate.”

She highlighted a 5% post-crisis growth rebound in 2024, and a significant improvement in the revenue-to-GDP ratio, which rose from 8.2% in 2022 to 13.5% in 2024. Debt restructuring is nearly complete, and overall program performance has been strong.

However, Kozack also acknowledged that global trade policy and economic uncertainties pose risks to Sri Lanka’s outlook. These factors will be carefully considered during the fifth review, which will include a comprehensive assessment of the country’s economic conditions and discussions with Sri Lankan authorities.

“The team will make an overall assessment of Sri Lanka’s economy, including any implications from trade tensions or uncertainty,” she said.