The International Monetary Fund will likely approve the fifth review of Sri Lanka's bailout program due to the country's strong fiscal performance, steady progress on debt restructuring and political stability, though high poverty levels and delayed state-enterprise reforms will remain key risks. Sri Lanka is awaiting approval from the IMF Executive Board for the fifth review of its bailout program, which would unlock approximately $347 million in funding, bringing the total funds released under its nearly $3 billion support program to around $2.04 billion. This follows an IMF staff-level agreement with Sri Lanka on Oct. 9, where both sides agreed that while fiscal performance has been strong, sustaining momentum will require improved tax compliance, a broader tax base and plugging revenue leakages, among other reforms....
