Colombo, November 18 (Daily Mirror)- While highlighting his government’s commitment to addressing the pressing needs of the people, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged the IMF to maintain a balanced approach that considers the hardships faced by citizens.

He said this during a meeting with Senior Mission Chief Peter Breuer and the IMF delegation at the Presidential Secretariat today (18), to discuss the next steps in the IMF programme. 

The President reaffirmed his readiness to collaborate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to advance Sri Lanka’s economic recovery within the context of the mandate, the President's Media Division (PMD) said.

The IMF team congratulated the President and his government on their decisive electoral victory, expressing optimism about the collaboration. 

President Dissanayake, in turn, underscored his administration's responsibility to uphold the people’s mandate, emphasising that the success of the IMF programme hinges on rebuilding public trust in governance.

He assured that under his leadership, social spending allocations will be utilised effectively, with priority given to combating child poverty and malnutrition and providing better support for differently abled individuals.

The IMF delegation noted that allocations for social spending had not been fully utilised previously, prompting President Dissanayake to pledge proactive measures to ensure efficient allocation and utilisation of resources.

Governance and anti-corruption were also central to the discussions. The President reiterated his administration’s commitment to the fight against corruption, a key component of the mandate granted by the people. He assured the IMF team that his government will implement stringent laws to enhance the legislative and institutional structures to uphold transparency and accountability.

The meeting marked a positive step forward in the collaboration between the government and the IMF, laying the groundwork for a coordinated effort toward economic recovery and long-term stability