Semasinghe assures transparent IMF process

By Kalani Kumarasinghe   

The agreement endorsed by the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be tabled in Parliament by the President this week, State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe said.  

The Executive Board of the IMF is scheduled to meet in Washington on Monday to discuss Sri Lanka’s request for an Extended Arrangement Under its Extended Fund Facility.  

 “The agreement will be tabled this week after March 22,” the State Finance Minister said. Certain groups attempted to paint this process as a ruse, Semasinghe said as the staff level agreement was not tabled in Parliament.   

“It is the final agreement approved by the IMF Board which is tabled in Parliament, and not the staff level agreement. 

That is the accepted norm,” Semasinghe said, assuring complete transparency. “As the government we will continue to act with transparency,” he said.