Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD) of the International Monetary Fund IMF, has issued a warning to Sri Lanka, stressing that with rising tariffs, energy price uncertainty, and Middle East tensions, the country has no room for policy missteps.

Speaking at the “Sri Lanka’s Road to Recovery: Debt and Governance” conference, she emphasised the need for fiscal discipline to prevent a return to crisis and highlighted the IMF’s continued partnership.

She urged collective commitment from all stakeholders to ensure that this becomes Sri Lanka’s final IMF program, referencing the country’s 16 previous engagements with the Fund.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake echoed this vision, expressing hope that Sri Lanka would achieve self-sustained growth and debt repayment capacity by 2028.