Sri Lanka vs. IMF Programme Targets

Abstract

Sri Lanka is currently entering its 17th IMF programme with the impending board level agreement. However, over the 54-year period from 1965 to 2019, Sri Lanka has been in an IMF programme for 28 of those years. In other words, Sri Lanka has been in an IMF programme for over 50% of the period. In a previous insight, publicfinance.lk highlighted that Sri Lanka has only completed 9 of the 16 programmes it has entered into. The infographics below highlights that even during an IMF programme Sri Lanka does not have a clean track record of meeting the initial targets set in terms of revenue, primary balance, and budget balance.