Bangladesh is expected to get back the money borrowed by Sri Lanka by September this year as the country’s economic situation is improving, according to Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Bangladeshi newspaper The Business Standard reported.

“Sri Lanka is gradually doing better. They are recovering slowly. We have given them time till September (to repay the loan),” Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen had told Bangladeshi reporters on Sunday (5) afternoon, hoping for repayment by Sri Lanka within the timeframe.

The Bangladesh Foreign Minister, who returned to Bangladesh Sunday from Sri Lanka, said the new Government in Sri Lanka is running the country “pretty well”.

The Sri Lankan Government hopes that they will recover from the problem and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is coming up for support, Momen said.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has conveyed Sri Lanka’s gratitude to the Bangladesh Government and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the timely assistance as the country battles to rebuild its economy.

“I must say they are very grateful to us,” said Momen.

Foreign Minister Momen visited Sri Lanka as a guest for the country’s 75th Independence Day celebrations, for which the guest list consisted mostly of officials from neighbouring countries at the Foreign Minister level.

Bangladesh Bank earlier granted Sri Lanka six more months to repay the $ 200 million loan after the island nation requested to extend the repayment period due to its prolonged economic crisis. In a friendly gesture, Bangladesh had extended the loan to cash-strapped Sri Lanka under a currency swap arrangement in 2021.