Sri Lanka’s new IMF program to back longer term goals

July 23, 2012 (LBO) - A new two year program to be discussed with the International Monetary Fund will support longer term goals of the administration which may involve improving revenues, state enterprises, or keeping deficits and inflation down, officials said.



Details discussions on the program will be held with the arrival of the next IMF mission to the island.

Sri Lanka successfully completed a 2.

5 billion US dollar bailout program on Friday, the first time an IMF deal has been completed. Authorities have said they would like to move to another program or Extended Fund facility.

"We are keen to see we have a relationship with the IMF on a longer term basis at least for the next two years," Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said.

IMF resident representative Koshy Mathai said authorities could use the next program to support any of their longer term goals.

"The government will have space to other changes, to improve revenue administration, improve state enterprises," Mathai said.

"It is hard to say what it will look like.

"