The agreement reached between Sri Lanka and the Export-Import Bank of China (Exim Bank) is a ‘positive step forward’ in the island nation’s debt restructuring process, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says.
Commenting in this regard, IMF’s Senior Mission Chief Peter Breuer said the global lender stands ready to move forward with the first program review as soon as financing assurances from all official creditors are in place.
On October 11, the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization & National Policies announced that Sri Lanka has reached an agreement on the key principles and indicative terms of a debt treatment with the Exim Bank of China.
The ministry also mentioned that the agreement in principle covers approximately USD 4.2 billion of outstanding debt.
The indicative terms agreed are expected to provide the necessary fiscal space for Sri Lanka to implement its ambitious reform agenda.
Sri Lankan authorities had expressed hopes that this landmark achievement would provide an anchor to their ongoing engagement with the Official Creditor Committee and commercial creditors, including the bondholders.
Later in October, the IMF team and Sri Lankan authorities reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies to conclude the first review of the 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF)-supported program.
Accordingly, Sri Lanka will have access to SDR 254 million (approximately USD 330 million) in financing once the review is approved by IMF Management and IMF Executive Board.