Ceylon Chamber says Sri Lanka must stay with the IMF programme to protect stability, investor confidence, and economic recovery.
Ceylon Chamber has urged Sri Lanka to continue engaging with the International Monetary Fund to protect economic stability and sustain reform momentum.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, one of the country’s most influential trade bodies, said continued engagement with the IMF remains essential at a difficult time for the economy.
“Continued engagement with the IMF programme remains critical to preserving macroeconomic stability, restoring investor confidence, and strengthening Sri Lanka’s external resilience,” it said in a statement.
Sri Lanka this week gained access to around US$ 695 million under the IMF Extended Fund Facility programme after completing its 5th and 6th reviews.
The Chamber said the IMF review highlights the need to maintain structural reforms.
It said these reforms include improving the investment climate, strengthening competitiveness, and accelerating infrastructure and institutional reforms that support private sector-led growth.
The full statement issued by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is reproduced below.
Ceylon Chamber Welcomes IMF Approval and Calls for Reform Momentum
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce welcomes and commends the Government of Sri Lanka on the successful completion and approval of the 5th and 6th Reviews under the International Monetary Fund Extended Fund Facility programme.
The Chamber said this milestone allows Sri Lanka to access approximately USD 695 million in financing support.
It said the approval reinforces confidence in the country’s ongoing economic recovery and reform agenda.
At a time of heightened global uncertainty and external sector pressures caused by the conflict in the Middle East, the Chamber believes this approval sends a strong positive signal to markets, investors, and the private sector.
The Chamber said continued engagement with the IMF programme remains critical to preserving macroeconomic stability, restoring investor confidence, and strengthening Sri Lanka’s external resilience.
It also noted that the IMF review underscores the importance of sustaining structural reforms.
These include improving the investment climate, enhancing competitiveness, and accelerating infrastructure and institutional reforms that support private sector-led growth.
At the onset of the Middle East crisis, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce submitted recommendations to the Government.
Those recommendations addressed several immediate economic and energy-related risks.
The Chamber said they remain highly relevant in managing emerging pressures on the exchange rate, energy costs, and overall external sector stability.
In line with its earlier recommendations, the Chamber reiterated several priority measures.
It called for the fuel QR system to be strengthened and optimized as a digital platform.
The Chamber said the system should improve efficiency and support better targeted assistance for priority groups, including public transport and school transport operators.
It said this should be done while maintaining cost-reflective pricing principles.
The Chamber also called for clear and consistent communication on the direction of economic policy.
It said this would help reinforce confidence among businesses and investors.
It would also support orderly exchange rate expectations, reduce market uncertainty, and sustain overall macroeconomic stability.
The Ceylon Chamber further emphasized the importance of accelerating reforms to improve Sri Lanka’s competitiveness in trade, investment, tourism, logistics, and digitalisation.
It said advancing these reforms will be essential to sustain and improve macroeconomic stabilization and resilience.
The Chamber has also urged its members to act responsibly during this critical period.
It said businesses should support measures that preserve economic stability and safeguard Sri Lanka’s long-term interests.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said it remains committed to actively engaging with policymakers and stakeholders.
It said this engagement will support progressive economic reforms, the successful completion of future IMF programme reviews, and Sri Lanka’s transition toward a resilient and competitive economy.
