$8.4 billion : Sri Lanka ambitious plan to raise foreign reserves

March 12, 2023 at 10:46 AM

Sri Lanka is set to implement an ambitious plan to increase its foreign reserves by a minimum of $8.4 billion, The Sunday Times reported.

This plan will be facilitated by the approval of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) facility on March 20, which will provide a loan of $2.9 billion. The World Bank has already committed to providing $1.5 billion, while the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide $1 billion in aid. In addition, $3 billion will be raised through the restructuring of selected state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

State Finance Minister Shehan Semasingha stated that the build-up of foreign reserves will commence immediately after the IMF begins disbursing the tranches of the Extended Fund Facility, which is expected to occur within the next two weeks. (NewsWire)