• The beginning will be difficult, but we know as we go on  that we can make more progresses

Hours after reaching the staff-level agreement between  Sri Lanka and the IMF, President Ranil Wickremesinghe noted that he  considers this to be the beginning of a new economic era where the  country is committed to a very competitive export oriented industry  while maintaining and improving social standards as well as looking  after the vulnerable groups.  

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that this is an  important step in the history of Sri Lanka, a statement from the  Presidential Media Division said. “Not only rising from the bankruptcy  crisis and the debt moratorium, it is also key to ensure that our social  sectors are protected and both our economic and social aspect of our  lifestyle will certainly not have any further setbacks.”  

“The beginning will be difficult, but we know as we go on  that we can make more progresses. Our commitment is what matters now  and we should not only fulfill the targets here, but we must get ahead  of them,” the President said, adding, “I appeal to the country, let us  reorient ourselves to an export-oriented economy which will also make it  easier for us to sustain our social services.”   

He also said that it also should be a beginning for the  fact that Sri Lanka should reduce its debts and if possible, even  eliminate its debts.