WASHINGTON - The International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday that initial financial market pressures on Sri Lanka appear contained following “horrific” Easter Sunday bomb attacks but decisive policy and security actions are needed to shore up the island’s all-important tourism sector.
Sri Lanka’s $4.4 billion tourism sector is the country’s third largest and fastest-growing source of foreign currency, after remittances and garment exports. The extra year would provide Sri Lankan authorities additional time to “anchor macroeconomic stability and complete their reform agenda,” Goretti said, adding that the IMF was “deeply saddened by the horrific attacks in Sri Lanka” and “joins the international community in condemning these atrocious acts of terrorism.”