President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Sri Lanka has not ruled out a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme after the current arrangement ends, but no final decision has been made.
Speaking at a discussion organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, he said the government is examining an agreement focused on growth while protecting the economic stability gained under the present programme.
The President said fuel import spending could reach about $6 billion in 2026 if current trends continue, compared with around $4.4 billion in 2025, because of the conflict in the Middle East. He said this shows the uncertainty facing the economy.
For readers, the outcome will shape how the government manages foreign exchange reserves, credit standing and its exposure to external shocks such as higher fuel costs.
He said senior economic officials, including the Finance Ministry and the Central Bank, are discussing what form a future programme could take. The government has neither decided to leave IMF engagement nor committed to another programme, he said.
About six months remain under the current arrangement, and the government will use that time to assess its options, the President said.
