Speaking with the delegation of International Monetary Fund (IMF) at his residence in Colombo on September 16, the President said that it is essential to make the people, aware especially the small and medium trade and business about the need for widening the tax base  as only a  very small segment of income earners pay taxes now. He urged the IMF to provide necessary technical support for tax awareness programs.

The IMF Mission Chief Todd Schneider said that IMF would continue to extend support to Sri Lanka to improve monetary and financial discipline. He expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by the government to strengthen democracy, human rights and reconciliation. Schneider said the IMF’s three-year-old Structural Adjustment Program worth US$ 1.5 billion is progressing very satisfactorily.

President Sirisena explained that while the government is determined to get Sri Lanka out of the current economic difficulties despite opposition campaigns, the government is very strong and stable, he assured the IMF delegation.

The delegation included New Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at IMF Headquarters, Jae Woo Lee, Economist Masahiro Nozaki and Resident Representative Eltri Kvintradze.